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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:33:58 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:33:58 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10146-0.txt b/10146-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..49ac84f --- /dev/null +++ b/10146-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4434 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10146 *** + +REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS IN ST. PAUL + +A Collection of Articles Written for and Published in the Daily +Pioneer Press. + +By FRANK MOORE + + + + + + +NEWSPAPER STRUGGLES OF PIONEER DAYS. + +A BRIEF NARRATION OF INCIDENTS AND EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY +DAYS OF ST. PAUL, DAILY NEWSPAPERS. + + +If James M. Goodhue could revisit the earth and make a tour among the +daily newspaper offices of St. Paul he would discover that wonderful +strides had been made in the method of producing a newspaper during +the latter half of the past century. Among the first things to attract +the attention of this old-timer would be the web-perfecting press, +capable of producing 25,000 impressions an hour, instead of the old +hand press of 240 impressions an hour; the linotype machine, capable +of setting 6,000 to 10,000 ems per hour, instead of the old hand +compositor producing only 800 to 1,000 ems per hour, and the mailing +machine, enabling one man to do the work of five or six under the +old method. Think of getting out the Sunday Pioneer Press with the +material in use fifty years ago. It would take 600 hand presses, 600 +hand pressmen and 600 boys three hours to print the edition, and as +there were no means of stereotyping in those days the forms would have +to be set up 600 times, requiring the services of 5,000 compositors. +Papers printed under these conditions would have to be sold for one +dollar each, and there would not be much profit in it at that. The +first daily papers printed in St. Paul were not conducted or a very +gigantic scale, as the entire force of one office generally consisted +of one pressman, five or six compositors, two editors and a business +manager. A few reminiscences of the trials and tribulations of the +early newspaper manager, editor and compositor may not be wholly +devoid of interest. + + * * * * * + +In 1857 there occurred in Minnesota an election of delegates to the +constitutional convention to provide for the admission of Minnesota +into the galaxy of states. The election was so close, politically, +that when the delegates met there was a division, and the Republicans +and Democrats held separate conventions. At the conclusion of the work +of the two conventions the contract for printing was awarded to the +two leading papers of the state--the Pioneer and the Minnesotian--the +Pioneer to print the proceedings of the Democratic body and the +Minnesotian that of the Republican. This contract called for the +expenditure of considerable money for material with which to perform +the work. Mr. Moore, the business manager of the Minnesotian, went to +New York and purchased a Hoe press, the first one ever brought to the +state, and a large quantity of type; also a Hoe proof press, which is +still in use in the Pioneer Press composing room. When the book was +about completed the business manager of the Minnesotian was informed +that an injunction had been issued prohibiting him from drawing +any money from the state until the question of the right of the +Minnesotian to do any state printing had been determined by the +district court. Mr. Goodrich was state printer and claimed he had a +right to print the proceedings of both constitutional bodies. This +action on the part of the Pioneer produced great consternation in the +Minnesotian office, as most of the men had not received more than half +pay for some time, and now, when the balance of their pay was almost +in sight, they were suddenly compelled to await the slow and doubtful +action of the courts before receiving pay for their summer's work. The +district court, subsequently confirmed by the supreme court, decided +in favor of the Minnesotian, and the day following the decision Mr. +Moore, of the Minnesotian, brought down a bag of gold from the capitol +containing $4,000, and divided it up among his employes. + + * * * * * + +In 1858, when the first Atlantic cable was laid, the news was +anxiously looked for, and nearly every inhabitant of the city turned +out to greet the arrival of the Gray Eagle and Itasca, two of the +fastest boats on the river, which were expected to bring the news +of the successful laying of the cable. The Gray Eagle started from +Dubuque at 9 o'clock in the morning and the Itasca started from +Prairie du Chien, about 100 miles farther up the river, at noon of the +same day. When the boats reached the bend below the river they were +abreast of each other, and as they reached the levee it was hardly +possible to tell which was ahead. One of the passengers on the Gray +Eagle had a copy of the Dubuque Herald containing the Queen's message, +tied up with a small stone on the inside of it, and as he threw it to +the shore a messenger from the Minnesotian caught it and ran up Bench +street to the Minnesotian office, where the printers were waiting, +and the Minnesotian had the satisfaction of getting out an extra some +little time before their competitors. + + * * * * * + +In the summer season the newspapers had to rely, to a considerable +extent, on the steamboats for late Dubuque and Chicago papers for +telegraph news. There were three or four daily lines of steamers to +St. Paul, and every one of them could be distinguished by its whistle. +When it was time for the arrival of the boat bringing the newspapers +from which the different papers expected to get their telegraphic +news, messengers from the different offices would be at the levee, and +as the boat neared the shore they would leap for the gangplank, and +there was always a scramble to get to the clerk's office first. +James J. Hill and the late Gus Borup were almost always at the levee +awaiting the arrival of the steamers, but as they were after copies +of the boats' manifest they did not come in competition with the +adventurous kids from the newspaper offices. + + * * * * * + +The Minnesotian was probably the first daily paper in the West to +illustrate a local feature. During the summer of 1859 a man by the +name of Jackson was lynched by a mob in Wright county, and Gov. Sibley +called out the Pioneer Guards to proceed to the place where the +lynching occurred and arrest all persons connected with the tragedy. +The Pioneer Guards was the crack military company of the state, and +the only service any of its members ever expected to do was in the +ballroom or to participate in a Fourth of July parade. When they were +called out by the governor there was great consternation in the ranks. +One of the members, who is still a prominent politician in the city, +when told that his first duty was to serve his country, tremblingly +remarked that he thought his first duty was to provide for his wife +and family. + +A number of them made their wills before departing, as they thought +the whole of Wright county was in open rebellion. After being absent +for about a week they proudly marched back to the city without ever +firing a gun or seeing an enemy. The late J. Fletcher Williams was +city editor of the Minnesotian, and he wrote an extended account of +the expedition, and It was profusely illustrated with patent medicine +cuts and inverted wood type and border, the only available material at +that time that could be procured. + + * * * * * + +The year 1859 was a memorable one in the political history of +Minnesota. Alexander Ramsey and George L. Becker, both now living in +this city, were the rival candidates for governor. The Republicans +made extraordinary efforts to elect their state and legislative +tickets, as both governor and United States senator were at stake. +Among the speakers imported by the Republicans were the Hon. Galusha +A. Grow of Pennsylvania and Hon. Schuyler Colfax of Indiana. Mr. Grow, +then as now, represented the congressional district in Pennsylvania in +which I formally resided, and I was very anxious to hear him, as the +first political speech I had ever heard was made by him in a small +village in Pennsylvania. The speakers were announced to speak at the +old People's theater, on the corner of Fourth and St. Peter streets, +and I was among the first to enter. The theater was packed to +overflowing. Mr. Grow had made a very interesting speech of about an +hour's duration, and Mr. Colfax was to follow for an equal length of +time. After Mr. Colfax had spoken about ten minutes an alarm of fire +was sounded and in less than fifteen minutes the entire structure was +burned to the ground. This happened about 9:30 o'clock in the +evening, and, strange to relate, not one of the morning papers had an +announcement of the fact the next day. The morning papers at that time +were something like an evening paper of to-day. They were set up and +made up in the afternoon and generally printed in the early part of +the evening. The result of that election was very gratifying to the +Republicans. I can see old Dr. Foster now writing a double column +political head for the Minnesotian, the first two lines of which were: +"Shout, Republicans, Shout! We've Cleaned the Breech Clouts Out!" + +Dr. Foster was the editor of the Minnesotian and was quite a power in +the Republican party. He wielded a vigorous pen and possessed a very +irascible temper. I have often seen him perform some Horace Greeley +antics in the composing room of the old Minnesotian. At the time of +the execution of John Brown for his attempted raid into Virginia, I +remember bringing the Chicago Tribune to the doctor, containing the +announcement of the execution. I had arranged the paper so that the +doctor could take in the contents of the heading at the first glance. +The doctor looked at the headlines a second and then exclaimed, loud +enough to be heard a block, "Great God! In the nineteenth century, a +man hung for an idea!" + +At another time the doctor became very much enraged over some news +that I had laid before him. In the early 50's Galusha A. Grow, of +Pennsylvania, introduced into the house of representatives the first +homestead law and the Republican party soon afterward incorporated +the idea into their platform as one of their pet measures. After +superhuman effort the bill passed the house of representatives, that +body being nearly tie politically, and was sent to the senate. The +Democratic majority in the senate was not very favorably impressed +with the measure, but with the assistance of the late President +Johnson, who was senator from Tennessee at that time, the bill passed +the senate by a small majority. There was great rejoicing over the +event and no one supposed for a moment that the president would veto +the measure. When I laid the Chicago Tribune before the excitable +doctor containing the announcement of Buchanan's veto the very air was +blue with oaths. The doctor took the paper and rushed out into the +street waving the paper frantically in the air, cursing the president +at every step. + + * * * * * + +From 1854, the date of the starting of the three St. Paul daily +papers, until 1860, the time of the completion of the Winslow +telegraph line, there was great strife between the Pioneer, +Minnesotian and Times as to which would be the first to appear on the +street with the full text of the president's message. The messages of +Pierce and Buchanan were very lengthy, and for several days preceding +their arrival the various offices had all the type of every +description distributed and all the printers who could possibly be +procured engaged to help out on the extra containing the forthcoming +message. It was customary to pay every one employed, from the devil to +the foreman, $2.50 in gold, and every printer in the city was notified +to be in readiness for the approaching typographical struggle. One +year one of the proprietors of the Minnesotian thought he would +surprise the other offices, and he procured the fastest livery team In +the city and went down the river as far as Red Wing to intercept the +mail coach, and expected to return to St. Paul three or four hours in +advance of the regular mail, which would give him that much advantage +over his competitors. Owing to some miscalculation as to the time the +stage left Chicago the message was delivered in St. Paul twenty-four +hours earlier than was expected, and the proprietor of the Minnesotian +had the pleasure of receiving a copy of his own paper, containing the +complete message, long before he returned to St. Paul. The management +always provided an oyster supper for the employes of the paper first +out with the message, and it generally required a week for the typos +to fully recover from its effect. + + * * * * * + +As an evidence of what was uppermost in the minds of most people at +this time, and is probably still true to-day, it may be related that +in the spring of 1860, when the great prize fight between Heenan and +Sayers was to occur in England, and the meeting of the Democratic +national convention in Charleston, in which the Minnesota Democrats +were in hopes that their idol, Stephen A. Douglas, would be nominated +for president, the first question asked by the people I would meet on +the way from the boat landing to the office would be: "Anything from +the prize fight? What is the news from the Charleston convention?" + + * * * * * + +"The good old times" printers often talk about were evidently not the +years between the great panic of 1857 and the breaking out of the +Civil war in 1861. Wages were low and there was absolutely no money to +speak of. When a man did occasionally get a dollar he was not sure it +would be worth its face value when the next boat would arrive with +a new Bank Note Reporter. Married men considered themselves very +fortunate when they could get, on Saturday night, an order on a +grocery or dry goods store for four or five dollars, and the single +men seldom received more than $2 or $3 cash. That was not more than +half enough to pay their board bill. This state of affairs continued +until the Press was started in 1861, when Gov. Marshall inaugurated +the custom, which still prevails, of paying his employes every +Saturday night. + + * * * * * + +Another instance of the lack of enterprise on the part of the daily +paper of that day: + +During the summer of 1860 a large party of Republican statesmen and +politicians visited St. Paul, consisting of State Senator W.H. Seward. +Senator John P. Hale, Charles Francis Adams, Senator Nye, Gen. Stewart +L. Woodford and several others of lesser celebrity. The party came to +Minnesota in the interest of the Republican candidate for president. +Mr. Seward made a great speech from the front steps of the old +capitol, in which he predicted that at some distant day the capitol +of this great republic would be located not far from the Falls of St. +Anthony. There was a large gathering at the capitol to hear him, but +those who were not fortunate enough to get within sound of his voice +had to wait until the New York Herald, containing a full report of +his speech, reached St. Paul before they could read what the great +statesman had said. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1860 the first telegraph line was completed to St. +Paul. Newspaper proprietors thought they were then in the world, so +far as news is concerned, but it was not to be so. The charges for +telegraph news were so excessive that the three papers in St. Paul +could not afford the luxury of the "latest news by Associated Press." +The offices combined against the extortionate rates demanded by the +telegraph company and made an agreement not to take the dispatches +until the rates were lowered; but it was like an agreement of the +railroad presidents of the present day, it was not adhered to. The +Pioneer made a secret contract with the telegraph company and left the +Minnesotian and the Times out in the cold. Of course that was a very +unpleasant state of affairs and for some time the Minnesotian and +Times would wait until the Pioneer was out in the morning and would +then set up the telegraph and circulate their papers. One of the +editors connected with the Minnesotian had an old acquaintance in the +pressroom of the Pioneer, and through him secured one of the first +papers printed. This had been going on for some time when Earle S. +Goodrich, the editor of the Pioneer, heard of it, and he accordingly +made preparation to perpetrate a huge joke on the Minnesotian. Mr. +Goodrich was a very versatile writer and he prepared four or five +columns of bogus telegraph and had it set up and two or three copies +of the Pioneer printed for the especial use of the Minnesotian. The +scheme worked to a charm. Amongst the bogus news was a two-column +speech purporting to have been made by William H. Seward in the senate +just previous to the breaking out of the war. Mr. Seward's well-known +ideas were so closely imitated that their genuineness were not +questioned. The rest of the news was made up of dispatches purporting +to be from the then excited Southern States. The Minnesotian received +a Pioneer about 4 o'clock in the morning and by 8 the entire edition +was distributed throughout the city. I had distributed the Minnesotian +throughout the upper portion of the city, and just as I returned to +Bridge Square I met the carrier of the Pioneer, and laughed at him for +being so late. He smiled, but did not speak. As soon as I learned what +had happened I did not do either. The best of the joke was, the Times +could not obtain an early copy of the Pioneer and set up the bogus +news from the Minnesotian, and had their edition printed and ready to +circulate when they heard of the sell. They at once set up the genuine +news and circulated both the bogus and regular, and made fun of the +Minnesotian for being so easily taken in. + + * * * * * + +The Pioneer retained the monopoly of the news until the Press was +started, on the 1st of January, 1861. The Press made arrangements with +Mr. Winslow for full telegraphic dispatches, but there was another +hitch in the spring of 1861 and for some time the Press had to obtain +its telegraph from proof sheets of the St. Anthony Falls News, a paper +published in what is now East Minneapolis. Gov. Marshall was very much +exercised at being compelled to go to a neighboring town for telegraph +news, and one night when news of unusual importance was expected he +had a very stormy interview with Mr. Winslow. No one ever knew exactly +what he told him, but that night the Press had full telegraphic +reports, and has had ever since. + + * * * * * + +Gov. Marshall was a noble man. When the first battle of Bull Run +occurred the earlier reports announced a great Union victory. I +remember of going to Dan Rice's circus that night and felt as chipper +as a young kitten. After the circus was out I went back to the office +to see if any late news had been received. I met Gov. Marshall at the +door, and with tears rolling down his cheeks he informed me that the +Union force had met with a great reverse and he was afraid the +country would never recover from it. But it did, and the governor +was afterward one of the bravest of the brave in battling for his +country's honor. + + * * * * * + +Printers were very patriotic, and when Father Abraham called for +"three hundred thousand more" in July, 1862, so many enlisted that +it was with much difficulty that the paper was enabled to present a +respectable appearance. The Press advertised for anything that could +set type to come in and help it out. I remember one man applying +who said he never had set any type, but he had a good theoretical +knowledge of the business. + +One evening an old gentleman by the name of Metcalf, father of the +late T.M. Metcalf, came wandering into the office about 9 o'clock and +told the foreman he thought he could help him out. He was given a +piece of copy and worked faithfully until the paper went to press. +He was over eighty years old and managed to set about 1,000 ems. Mr. +Metcalf got alarmed at his father's absence from home and searched the +city over, and finally found him in the composing room of the Press. +The old man would not go home with his son, but insisted on remaining +until the paper was up. + + * * * * * + +Although Minnesota sent to the war as many, if not more, men than any +other state in the Union in proportion to its population, yet it was +necessary to resort to a draft in a few counties where the population +was largely foreign. The feeling against the draft was very bitter, +and the inhabitants of the counties which were behind in the quota did +not take kindly to the idea of being drafted to fight for a cause they +did not espouse. A riot was feared, and troops were ordered down from +the fort to be in readiness for any disturbance that might occur. +Arrangements for the prosecution of the draft were made as rapidly as +possible, but the provost marshal was not in readiness to have it take +place on the day designated by the war department. This situation +of affairs was telegraphed to the president and the following +characteristic reply was received: "If the draft cannot take place, of +course it cannot take place. Necessity knows no law. A. Lincoln." The +bitterest feeling of the anti-drafters seemed to be against the +old St. Paul Press, a paper that earnestly advocated the vigorous +prosecution of the war. Threats were made to mob the office. A company +was organized for self-defense, and Capt. E.R. Otis, now of West +Superior, one of the Press compositors at that time, was made post +commander. Capt. Otis had seen service in the early part of the war +and the employes considered themselves fortunate in having a genuine +military man for a leader. The office was barricaded, fifteen old +Springfield muskets and 800 rounds of ammunition was brought down from +the capitol and every one instructed what to do in case of an attack. +I slept on a lounge in the top story of the old Press building +overlooking Bridge Square, and the guns and ammunition were under my +bed. I was supposed to give the alarm should the mob arrive after the +employes had gone home. As there was no possible avenue of escape in +case of an attack, it looks now as if the post commander displayed +poor judgment in placing a lone sentinel on guard. But there was no +riot. The excitement gradually died away and the draft took place +without interruption. + + * * * * * + +Before and some time after the war the daily newspapers took advantage +of all the holidays and seldom issued papers on the days following +Christmas, New Year's, Washington's birthday, Fourth of July +and Thanksgiving. On the Fourth of July, 1863, the Pioneer made +arrangements to move from their old quarters near the corner of Third +and Cedar streets to the corner of Third and Robert. It happened +that on that day two of the greatest events of the Civil war had +occurred--the battle of Gettysburg and the surrender of Vicksburg. The +Pioneer being engaged in moving their plant could not issue an extra +on that occasion, and the Press had the field exclusively to itself. +The news of these two great events had become pretty generally known +throughout the city and the anxiety to get fuller particulars was +simply intense. The Press, having a clear field for that day, did not +propose to issue its extra until the fullest possible details had +been received. A great crowd had assembled in front of the old Press +office, anxiously awaiting details of the great Union victories. I had +helped prepare the news for the press and followed the forms to the +press room. As soon as a sufficient number of papers had been printed +I attempted to carry them to the counting room and place them on sale. +As I opened the side door of the press room and undertook to reach the +counting room by a short circuit, I found the crowd on the outside had +become so large that it was impossible to gain an entrance in that +direction, and undertook to retreat and try another route. But quicker +than a flash I was raised to the shoulders of the awaiting crowd and +walked on their heads to the counting room window, where I sold what +few papers I had as rapidly as I could hand them out. As soon as the +magnitude of the news got circulated cheer after cheer rent the air, +and cannon, anvils, firecrackers and everything that would make a +noise was brought into requisition, and before sundown St. Paul had +celebrated the greatest Fourth of July in its history. + + * * * * * + +I arrived in St. Paul on the morning of the 17th of April, 1858, and +Immediately commenced work on the Daily Minnesotian, my brother, Geo. +W. Moore, being part owner and manager of the paper. I had not been at +work long before I learned what a "scoop" was. Congress had passed +a bill admitting Minnesota into the Union, but as there was no +telegraphic communication with Washington it required two or three +days for the news to reach the state. The Pioneer, Minnesotian and +Times were morning papers, and were generally printed the evening +before. It so happened that the news of the admission of Minnesota was +brought to St. Paul by a passenger on a late boat and the editors of +the Pioneer accidentally heard of the event and published the same +on the following morning, thus scooping the other two papers. The +Minnesotian got out an extra and sent it around to their subscribers +and they thought they had executed a great stroke of enterprise. It +was not long before I became familiar with the method of obtaining +news and I was at the levee on the arrival of every boat thereafter. +I could tell every boat by its whistle, and there was no more scoops +'till the telegraph line was completed in the summer of 1860. + + * * * * * + +During the latter part of the Civil war the daily newspapers began to +expand, and have ever since kept fully abreast of the requirements of +our rapidly increasing population. The various papers were printed on +single-cylinder presses until about 1872, when double-cylinders were +introduced. In 1876 the first turtle-back press was brought to the +city, printing four pages at one time. In 1880 the different offices +introduced stereotyping, and in 1892 linotype type-setting machines +were installed. The next great advance will probably be some system of +photography that will entirely dispense with the work of the printer +and proofreader. Who knows? + + + + +THE FIVE MILLION LOAN ELECTION. + +EARLY STEAMBOATING--CELEBRATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL LAYING OF THE FIRST +ATLANTIC CABLE--A FIGHT BETWEEN THE CHIPPEWAS AND SIOUXS. + + +"Right this way for the Fuller house!" "Right this way for the Winslow +house!" "Right this way for the American house!" "Merchants hotel +on the levee!" "Stage for St. Anthony Falls!" These were the +announcements that would greet the arrival of travelers as they would +alight from one of the splendid steamers of the Galena, Dunleith, +Dubuque and Minnesota Packet company during the days when traveling +by steamboat was the only way of reaching points on the upper +Mississippi. Besides the above hotels, there was the Central house, +the Temperance house, the City hotel, Minnesota house, the Western +house, the Hotel to the Wild Hunter, whose curious sign for many years +attracted the attention of the visitor, and many others. The Merchants +is the only one left, and that only in name. Messengers from newspaper +offices, representatives of storage and commission houses, merchants +looking for consignments of goods, residents looking for friends, and +the ever alert dealers in town lots on the scent of fresh victims, +were among the crowds that daily congregated at the levee whenever the +arrival of one of the packet company's regular steamers was expected. +At one time there was a daily line of steamers to La Crosse, a daily +line to Prairie du Chien, a daily line to Dubuque and a line to St. +Louis, and three daily lines for points on the Minnesota river. +Does any one remember the deep bass whistle of the Gray Eagle, the +combination whistle on the Key City, the ear-piercing shriek of the +little Antelope, and the discordant notes of the calliope on the +Denmark? The officers of these packets were the king's of the day, and +when any one of them strayed up town he attracted as much attention as +a major general of the regulars. It was no uncommon sight to see six +or eight steamers at the levee at one time, and their appearance +presented a decided contrast to the levee of the present time. The +first boat through the lake in the spring was granted free wharfage, +and as that meant about a thousand dollars, there was always an +effort made to force a passage through the lake as soon as possible. +Traveling by steamboat during the summer months was very pleasant, +but it was like taking a trip to the Klondike to go East during the +winter. Merchants were compelled to supply themselves with enough +goods to last from November till April, as it was too expensive +to ship goods by express during the winter. Occasionally some +enterprising merchant would startle the community by announcing +through the newspapers that he had just received by Burbank's express +a new pattern in dress goods, or a few cans of fresh oysters. The +stages on most of the routes left St. Paul at 4 o'clock in the +morning, and subscribers to daily newspapers within a radius of forty +miles of the city could read the news as early as they can during +these wonderful days of steam and electricity. + + * * * * * + +Probably no election ever occurred in Minnesota that excited so much +interest as the one known as the "Five Million Loan Election." It was +not a party measure, as the leading men of both parties favored it; +although the Republicans endeavored to make a little capital out of it +at a later period. The only paper of any prominence that opposed the +passage of the amendment was the Minnesotian, edited by Dr. Thomas +Foster. That paper was very violent in its abuse of every one who +favored the passage of the law, and its opposition probably had an +opposite effect from what was intended by the redoubtable doctor. The +great panic of 1857 had had a very depressing effect on business +of every description and it was contended that the passage of this +measure would give employment to thousands of people; that the +rumbling of the locomotive would soon be heard in every corner of the +state, and that the dealer in town lots and broad acres would again be +able to complacently inform the newcomer the exact locality where a +few dollars would soon bring to the investor returns unheard of by +any ordinary methods of speculation. The campaign was short and the +amendment carried by an immense majority. So nearly unanimous was +the sentiment of the community in favor of the measure that it was +extremely hazardous for any one to express sentiments In opposition to +it. The city of St. Paul, with a population of about 10,000, gave a +majority of over 4,000 for the law. There was no Australian law +at that time, and one could vote early and often without fear of +molestation. One of the amusing features of the campaign, and in +opposition to the measure, was a cartoon drawn by R.O. Sweeney, now +a resident of Duluth. It was lithographed and widely circulated. The +newspapers had no facilities for printing cartoons at that time. They +had to be printed on a hand press and folded into the papers. It was +proposed, by the terms of this amendment to the constitution, to +donate to four different railroad companies $10,000 per mile for every +mile of road graded and ready to iron. Work Was commenced soon after +the passage of the law, and in a short time a demand was made by the +railroad companies upon Gov. Sibley for the issuance of the bonds, in +accordance with their idea of the terms of the contract made by the +state. Gov. Sibley declined to issue the bonds until the rights of +the state had been fully protected. The railroad companies would not +accept the restrictions placed upon them by the governor, and they +obtained a peremptory writ from the supreme court directing that they +be issued. The governor held that the supreme court had no authority +to coerce the executive branch of the state government, but on the +advice of the attorney general, and rather than have any friction +between the two branches of the government, he, in accordance with the +mandate of the court, reluctantly signed the bonds. Judge Flandrau +dissented from the opinion of his colleagues, and had his ideas +prevailed the state's financial reputation would have been vastly +improved. Dr. Foster did not believe Gov. Sibley was sincere in his +efforts to protect the interests of the state, and denounced him with +the same persistence he had during the campaign of the previous fall. +The doctor would never acknowledge that Gov. Sibley was the legal +governor of Minnesota, and Tie contended that he had no right to sign +the bonds: that their issuance was illegal, and that neither the +principal nor the interest would ever be paid. The Minnesotian carried +at the head of its columns the words "Official Paper of the City," and +it was feared that its malignant attacks upon the state officials, +denouncing the issuance of the bonds as fraudulent and illegal, would +be construed abroad as reflecting the sentiment of the majority of the +people in the the community in which it was printed, and would have a +bad effect in the East when the time came to negotiate the bonds. An +effort was made to induce the city council to deprive that paper of +its official patronage, but that body could not see its way clear to +abrogate its contract. Threats were made to throw the office into the +river, but they did not materialize. When Gov. Sibley endeavored +to place these bonds on the New York market he was confronted +with conditions not anticipated, and suffered disappointment and +humiliation in consequence of the failure of the attempt. The bonds +could not be negotiated. The whole railway construction scheme +suddenly collapsed, the railroad companies defaulted, the credit of +the state was compromised, "and enterprise of great pith and +moment had turned their currents awry." The evil forbodings of the +Minnesotian became literally true, and for more than twenty years +the repudiated bonds of Minnesota were a blot on the pages of her +otherwise spotless record. Nearly 250 miles of road were graded, on +which the state foreclosed and a few years later donated the same to +new organizations. During the administration of Gov. Pillsbury the +state compromised with the holders of these securities and paid 50 per +cent of their nominal value. Will she ever pay the rest? + + * * * * * + +In the latter part of May, 1858, a battle was fought near Shakopee +between the Sioux and the Chippewas. A party of Chippewa warriors, +under the command of the famous Chief Hole-in-the-day, surprised a +body of Sioux on the river bottoms near Shakopee and mercilessly +opened fire on them, killing and wounding fifteen or twenty. Eight or +ten Chippewas were killed during the engagement. The daily papers +sent reporters to the scene of the conflict and they remained in that +vicinity several days on the lookout for further engagements. Among +the reporters was John W. Sickels, a fresh young man from one of the +Eastern cities. He was attached to the Times' editorial staff and +furnished that paper with a very graphic description of the events of +the preceding days, and closed his report by saying that he was unable +to find out the "origin of the difficulty." As the Sioux and +Chippewas were hereditary enemies, his closing announcement afforded +considerable amusement to the old inhabitants. + + * * * * * + +The celebration in St. Paul in honor of the successful laying of the +Atlantic cable, which took place on the first day of September, 1858, +was one of the first as well as one of the most elaborate celebrations +that ever occurred in the city. The announcement of the completion of +the enterprise, which occurred on the 5th of the previous month, did +not reach St. Paul until two or three days later, as there was no +telegraphic communication to the city at that time. As soon as +messages had been exchanged between Queen Victoria and President +Buchanan it was considered safe to make preparations for a grand +celebration. Most of the cities throughout the United States were +making preparations to celebrate on that day, and St. Paul did not +propose to be outdone. The city council appropriated several hundred +dollars to assist in the grand jubilation and illumination. An +elaborate program was prepared and a procession that would do credit +to the city at the present time marched through the principal streets, +to the edification of thousands of spectators from the city and +surrounding country. To show that a procession in the olden time was +very similar to one of the up-to-date affairs, the following order of +procession is appended: + +THE PROCESSION. + + Escort of Light Cavalry. + Band. + Pioneer Guard. + City Guard. + City Battery. + Floral procession with escort of Mounted Cadets, + representing Queen Victoria, President Buchanan, + the different States of the Union, and + other devices. + The Governor and State Officers in carriages. + The Judges of the State in carriages. + The Clergy. + Officers of the Army. + Officers of the Navy. + The Municipal Authorities of Neighboring Cities. + The Board of Education in Carriages. + The Mayor and City Council. + Knights Templars on Horseback. + Band. + Odd Fellows. + Druids. + Typographical Corps. + Band. + Officers and Crews of Vessels in Port. + Turners. + German Reading Society. + German Singing Society. + Attaches of Postoffice Department. + Citizens in Carriages. + Citizens on Horseback. + Brewers on Horseback. + Butchers on Horseback. + +Col. AC Jones, adjutant general of the state, was marshal-in-chief, +and he was assisted by a large number of aides. The Pioneer Guards, +the oldest military company in the state, had the right of line. They +had just received their Minie rifles and bayonets, and, with the +drum-major headgear worn by military companies in those days, +presented a very imposing appearance. The Pioneer Guards were followed +by the City Guards, under Capt. John O'Gorman. A detachment of cavalry +and the City Battery completed the military part of the affair. The +fire department, under the superintendence of the late Charles H. +Williams, consisting of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder company, Minnehaha +Engine company, Hope Engine company and the Rotary Mill company was +the next in order. One of the most attractive features of the occasion +was the contribution of the Pioneer Printing company. In a large car +drawn by six black horses an attempt was made to give an idea of +printers and printing in the days of Franklin, and also several +epochs in the life of the great philosopher. In the car with the +representatives of the art preservative was Miss Azelene Allen, a +beautiful and popular young actress connected with the People's +theater, bearing in her hand a cap of liberty on a spear. She +represented the Goddess of Liberty. The car was ornamented with +flowers and the horses were decorated with the inscriptions +"Franklin," "Morse," "Field." The Pioneer book bindery was also +represented in one of the floats, and workmen, both male and female, +were employed in different branches of the business. These beautiful +floats were artistically designed by George H. Colgrave, who is +still in the service of the Pioneer Press company. One of the unique +features of the parade, and one that attracted great attention, was a +light brigade, consisting of a number of school children mounted, and +they acted as a guard of honor to the president and queen. In an open +barouche drawn by four horses were seated two juvenile representatives +of President Buchanan and Queen Victoria. The representative of +British royalty was Miss Rosa Larpenteur, daughter of A.L. Larpenteur, +and the first child born of white parents in St. Paul. James Buchanan +was represented by George Folsom, also a product of the city. Col. +R.E.J. Miles and Miss Emily Dow, the stars at the People's theater, +were in the line of march on two handsomely caparisoned horses, +dressed in Continental costume, representing George and Martha +Washington. The colonel looked like the veritable Father of His +Country. There were a number of other floats, and nearly all the +secret societies of the city were in line. The procession was nearly +two miles in length and they marched three and one-half hours before +reaching their destination. To show the difference between a line of +march at that time and one at the present day, the following is given: + +THE LINE OF MARCH. + +Up St. Anthony street to Fort street, up Fort street to Ramsey street, +then countermarch down Fort to Fourth street, down Fourth street to +Minnesota street, up Minnesota street to Seventh street, down Seventh +street to Jackson street, up Jackson street to Eighth street, down +Eighth street to Broadway, down Broadway to Seventh street, up Seventh +street to Jackson street, down Jackson street to Third street, up +Third street to Market street. + +Ex-Gov. W.A. Gorman and ex-Gov. Alex. Ramsey were the orators of the +occasion, and they delivered very lengthy addresses. It had been +arranged to have extensive fireworks in the evening, but on account of +the storm they had to be postponed until the following night. + +It was a strange coincidence that on the very day of the celebration +the last message was exchanged between England and America. The cable +had been in successful operation about four weeks and 129 messages +were received from England and 271 sent from America. In 1866 a new +company succeeded in laying the cable which is in successful +operation to-day. Four attempts were made before the enterprise was +successful--the first in 1857, the second in 1858, the third in 1863 +and the successful one in 1865. Cyrus W. Field, the projector of the +enterprise, received the unanimous thanks of congress, and would have +been knighted by Great Britain had Mr. Field thought it proper to +accept such honor. + + * * * * * + +Some time during the early '50s a secret order known as the Sons of +Malta was organized in one of the Eastern states, and its membership +increased throughout the West with as much rapidity as the Vandals and +Goths increased their numbers during the declining years of the Roman +Empire. Two or three members of the Pioneer editorial staff procured a +charter from Pittesburg in 1858 and instituted a lodge in St. Paul. +It was a grand success from the start. Merchants, lawyers, doctors, +printers, and in fact half of the male population, was soon enrolled +in the membership of the order. There was something so grand, gloomy +and peculiar about the initiation that made it certain that as soon +as one victim had run the gauntlet he would not be satisfied until +another one had been procured. When a candidate had been proposed for +membership the whole lodge acted as a committee of investigation, +and if it could be ascertained that he had ever been derelict in his +dealings with his fellow men he was sure to be charged with it when +being examined by the high priest in the secret chamber of the +order--that is, the candidate supposed he was in a secret chamber from +the manner in which he had to be questioned, but when the hood had +been removed from his face he found, much to his mortification, that +his confession had been made to the full membership of the order. +Occasionally the candidate would confess to having been more of a +transgresser than his questioners had anticipated. + +The following is a sample of the questions asked a candidate for +admission: Grand Commander to candidate, "Are you in favor of +the acquisition of the Island of Cuba?" Candidate, "I am." Grand +Commander, "In case of an invasion of the island, would you lie awake +nights and steal into the enemy's camp?" Candidate, "I would." Grand +Commander, "Let it be recorded, he will lie and steal," and then an +immense gong at the far end of the hall would be sounded and the +candidate would imagine that the day of judgment had come. The scheme +of bouncing candidates into the air from a rubber blanket, so popular +during the days of the recent ice carnivals was said to have been +original with the Sons of Malta, and was one of the mildest of the +many atrocities perpetrated by this most noble order. + +Some time during the summer a large excursion party of members of the +order from Cincinnati, Chicago and Milwaukee visited St. Paul. +Among the number was the celebrated elocutionist, Alf. Burnett of +Cincinnati, and Gov. Alexander Randall of Wisconsin. They arrived at +the lower levee about midnight and marched up Third street to the hall +of the order, where a grand banquet was awaiting them. The visitors +were arrayed in long, black robes, with a black hood over their heads, +and looked more like the prisoners in the play of "Lucretia Borgia" +than members of modern civilization. + +On the following day there was an immense barbecue at Minnehaha +Falls, when the visitors were feasted with an ox roasted whole. This +organization kept on increasing in membership, until in an evil hour +one of the members had succeeded in inducing the Rev. John Penman +to consent to become one of its members. Mr. Penman was so highly +Indignant at the manner in which he had been handled during the +initiation that he immediately wrote an expose of the secret work, +with numerous illustrations, and had it published in Harper's Weekly. +The exposition acted like a bombshell in the camp of the Philistines, +and ever after Empire hall, the headquarters of the order, presented +a dark and gloomy appearance. The reverend gentleman was judge of +probate of Ramsey county at the time, but his popularity suddenly +diminished and when his term of office expired he found it to his +advantage to locate in a more congenial atmosphere. + + * * * * * + +The Minnesotian and Times, although both Republican papers, never +cherished much love for each other. The ravings of the Eatanswill +Gazette were mild in comparison to the epithets used by these little +papers in describing the shortcomings of their "vile and reptile +contemporary." After the election in 1859, as soon as it was known +that the Republicans had secured a majority in the legislature, the +managers of these rival Republican offices instituted a very lively +campaign for the office of state printer. Both papers had worked hard +for the success of the Republican ticket and they had equal claims +on the party for recognition. Both offices were badly in need of +financial assistance, and had the Republican party not been successful +one of them, and perhaps both, would have been compelled to suspend. +How to divide the patronage satisfactorily to both papers was the +problem that confronted the legislature about to assemble. The war of +words between Foster and Newson continued with unabated ferocity. The +editor of the Minnesotian would refer to the editor of the Times +as "Mr. Timothy Muggins Newson"--his right name being Thomas M. +Newson--and the Times would frequently mention Dr. Foster as the +"red-nosed, goggle-eyed editor of the Minnesotian." To effect a +reconciliation between these two editors required the best diplomatic +talent of the party leaders. After frequent consultations between the +leading men of the party and the managers of the two offices, it was +arranged that the papers should be consolidated and the name of the +paper should be the Minnesotian and Times. It can readily be seen +that a marriage contracted under these peculiar circumstances was +not likely to produce a prolonged state of connubial felicity. The +relations between Foster and Newson were no more cordial under one +management than had hitherto existed when the offices were separate. +This unhappy situation continued until about the time the legislature +adjourned, when the partnership was dissolved. Dr. Foster assumed +entire control of the Minnesotian and Maj. Newson was manager of +the Times. George W. Moore was associated with Dr. Foster in the +publication of the Minnesotian prior to the consolidation, but when +the offices separated it was stipulated that Mr. Moore should have the +printing of the Journals of the two houses of the legislature as part +payment of his share of the business of the late firm of Newson, +Moore, Foster & Co., thus entirely severing his relations with the +paper he helped to found. After the arrangement was made it was with +the greatest difficulty that it was carried into effect, as Orville +Brown of Faribault had entered the field as a candidate for state +printer and came within a few votes of taking the printing to that +village. The Times continued under the management of Mr. Newson until +the first of January, 1861, when he leased the office to W.R. Marshall +and Thomas F. Slaughter, who started the St. Paul Daily Press with +its material. The Press proved to be too much of a competitor for the +Minnesotian, and in a short time Dr. Foster was compelled to surrender +to its enterprising projectors, they having purchased the entire +plant. This ended the rivalry between the two Republican dailies. Dr. +Foster and Maj. Newson, some time afterward, received commissions in +the volunteer service of the army during the Civil war, and George W. +Moore was appointed collector of the port of St. Paul, a position he +held for more than twenty years. + + * * * * * + +Does any one remember that St. Paul had a paper called the Daily North +Star? The historians of St. Paul and Ramsey county do not seem to ever +have chronicled the existence of this sprightly little sheet. During +the presidential campaign of 1860 we had two kinds of Democrats--the +Douglas and the Breckinridge or administration Democrats. There +were only two papers in the state that espoused the cause of +Mr. Breckinridge--the Chatfield Democrat and the Henderson +Independent--and as they had been designated by the president to +publish such portion of the acts of congress as it was customary +to print at that time, it was quite natural that they carried the +administration colors at the head of their columns. They were called +"bread and butter papers." The supporters of Mr. Breckinridge thought +their cause would present a more respectable appearance if they had an +organ at the capital of the state. Accordingly the late H.H. Young, +the editor of the Henderson Independent, was brought down from that +village and the Daily North Star soon made its appearance. It was not +necessary at that time to procure the Associated Press dispatches, a +perfecting press and linotype machines before embarking in a daily +newspaper enterprise, as a Washington hand press and five or six +cases of type were all that were necessary. This paper was published +regularly until after election, and as the returns indicated that the +officeholders would not much longer contribute toward its support it +soon collapsed. + +St. Paul had another paper that is very seldom mentioned in newspaper +history. It was called the St. Paul Weekly Journal, and was edited by +Dr. Massey, formerly of the Ohio Statesman and private secretary to +Gov. Sam Medary. This paper was started in 1862, but on account of its +violent opposition to the prosecution of the war did not meet with +much favor, and only existed about eight months. + + * * * * * + +Some time during the year 1858 the Minnesotian office received about +half a dozen cases of very bad whisky in payment of a very bad debt. +They could not sell it--they could not even give it to any one. +Occasionally the thirst of an old-time compositor would get the +better of him and he would uncork a bottle. The experiment was never +repeated. Think of half a dozen cases of whisky remaining unmolested +in a printing office for more than two years. During the campaign +of 1860 the Wide Awakes and the Little Giants were the uniformed +political organizations intended to attract the attention of voters. +One dreary night one of the attaches of the Minnesotian office, and an +active member of the Wide Awakes, met the Little Giants near Bridge +Square as they were returning to their hall after a long march. +In order to establish a sort of entente cordiale between the two +organisations the Little Giants were invited over to the Minnesotian +office in hopes they would be able to reduce the supply of this +nauseating beverage. It was a golden opportunity. The invitation was +readily accepted, and in a short time fifty ardent followers of the +advocate of squatter sovereignty were lined up in front of a black +Republican office, thirsting for black Republican whisky. Bottle after +bottle, was passed down the line, and as it gurgled down the throats +of these enthusiastic marchers they smacked their lips with as much +gusto as did Rip Van Winkle when partaking of the soporific potation +that produced his twenty years' sleep. One of the cardinal principles +of the Democracy, at that time was to "love rum and hate niggers." As +the entire stock was disposed of before the club resumed its line of +march, the host of the occasion concluded that at least one plank of +their platform was rigidly adhered to. + + + + +THE GREAT SIOUX OUTBREAK IN 1862. + +NARRATION OF SOME OF THE EXCITING EVENTS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE +GREAT SIOUX OUTBREAK IN 1862--FORT RIDGELY, NEW ULM AND BIRCH +COULIE--OTHER DAY AND WABASHA--GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ST. PAUL. + + +In July and August, 1862, President Lincoln issued proclamations +calling for the enlistment of 600,000 volunteers for the purpose of +reinforcing the army, then vainly endeavoring to suppress the Southern +rebellion. It was probably one of the most gloomy periods in the +history of the Civil war. McClellan had been compelled to make a +precipitous and disastrous retreat from the vicinity of Richmond; +the army of Northern Virginia under Pope had met with several severe +reverses; the armies in the West under Grant, Buell and Curtis had not +been able to make any progress toward the heart of the Confederacy; +rebel marauders under Morgan were spreading desolation and ruin in +Kentucky and Ohio; rebel privateers were daily eluding the vigilant +watch of the navy and escaping to Europe with loads of cotton, which +they readily disposed of and returned with arms and ammunition to aid +in the prosecution of their cause. France was preparing to invade +Mexico with a large army for the purpose of forcing the establishment +of a monarchical form of government upon the people of our sister +republic; the sympathies of all the great powers of Europe, save +Russia, were plainly manifested by outspoken utterances favorable to +the success of the Confederate cause; rumors of foreign intervention +in behalf of the South were daily circulated; the enemies of the +government in the North were especially active in their efforts +to prevent the enlistment of men under the call of the president; +conspiracies for burning Northern cities had been unearthed by +government detectives, and emissaries from the South were endeavoring +to spread disease and pestilence throughout the loyal North. It was +during this critical period in the great struggle for the suppression +of the Rebellion that one of the most fiendish atrocities in the +history of Indian warfare was enacted on the western boundaries of +Minnesota. + + * * * * * + +It can readily be seen that the government was illy prepared to cope +with an outbreak of such magnitude as this soon proved to be. By the +terms of the treaty of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 the +Sioux sold all their lands in Minnesota, except a strip ten miles wide +on each side of the Minnesota river from near Fort Ridgely to Big +Stone lake. In 1858 ten miles of the strip lying north of the river +was sold, mainly through the influence of Little Crow. The selling of +this strip caused great dissatisfaction among the Indians and Little +Crow was severely denounced for the part he took in the transaction. +The sale rendered it necessary for all the Indians to locate on the +south side of the Minnesota, where game was scarce and trapping poor. +There was nothing for them to live upon unless they adopted the habits +of civilization and worked like white men. This was very distasteful +to many of them, as they wanted to live the same as they did before +the treaty--go where they pleased, when they pleased, and hunt game +and sell fur to traders. The government built houses for those who +desired to occupy them, furnished tools, seed, etc., and taught them +how to farm. At two of the agencies during the summer of the outbreak +they had several hundred acres of land under cultivation. The +disinclination of many of the Indians to work gradually produced +dissension among themselves and they formed into two parties--the +white man's party, those that believed in cultivating the soil; and +the Indian party, a sort of young-man-afraid-of-work association, who +believed it beneath the dignity of the noble Dakotan to perform +manual labor. The white man's, or farmer's party, was favored by the +government, some of them having fine houses built for them. The other +Indians did not like this, and became envious of them because they +discontinued the customs of the tribe. There was even said to have +been a secret organization among the tepee Indians whose object it was +to declare war upon the whites. The Indians also claimed that they +were not fairly dealt with by the traders; that they had to rely +entirely upon their word for their indebtedness to them; that they +were ignorant of any method of keeping accounts, and that when the +paymaster came the traders generally took all that was coming, and +often leaving many of them in debt. They protested against permitting +the traders to sit at the pay table of the government paymaster and +deduct from their small annuities the amount due them. They had at +least one white man's idea--they wanted to pay their debts when they +got ready. + + * * * * * + +For several weeks previous to the outbreak the Indians came to the +agencies to get their money. Day after day and week after week passed +and there was no sign of paymasters. The year 1862 was the the second +year of the great Rebellion, and as the government officers had been +taxed to their utmost to provide funds for the prosecution of the war, +it looked as though they had neglected their wards in Minnesota. Many +of the Indians who had gathered about the agencies were out of money +and their families were suffering. The Indians were told that on +account of the great war in which the government was engaged the +payment would never be made. Their annuities were payable in gold and +they were told that the great father had no gold to pay them with. +Maj. Galbraith, the agent of the Sioux, had organized a company to go +South, composed mostly of half-breeds, and this led the Indians to +believe that now would be the time to go to war with the whites and +get their land back. It was believed that the men who had enlisted +last had all left the state and that before, help could be sent they +could clear the country of the whites, and that the Winnebagos and +Chippewas would come to their assistance. It is known that the Sioux +had been in communication with Hole-in-the-Day, the Chippewa chief, +but the outbreak was probably precipitated before they came to an +understanding. It was even said at the time that the Confederate +government had emissaries among them, but the Indians deny this report +and no evidence has ever been collected proving its truthfulness. + + * * * * * + +Under the call of the president for 600,000 men Minnesota was called +upon to furnish five regiments--the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth +and Tenth--and the requisition had been partially filled and the men +mustered in when the news reached St. Paul that open hostilities had +commenced at the upper agency, and an indiscriminate massacre of the +whites was taking place. + + * * * * * + +The people of Minnesota had been congratulating themselves that +they were far removed from the horrors of the Civil war, and their +indignation knew no bounds when compelled to realize that these +treacherous redskins, who had been nursed and petted by officers +of the government, and by missionaries and traders for years, had, +without a moment's warning, commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of +men, women and children. It was a singular fact that farmer Indians, +whom the government officers and missionaries had tried so hard +to civilize, were guilty of the most terrible butcheries after +hostilities had actually commenced. + + * * * * * + +A few days previous to the attack upon the whites at the upper agency +a portion of the band of Little Six appeared at Action, Meeker county. +There they murdered several people and then fled to Redwood. It was +the first step in the great massacre that soon followed. On the +morning of the 18th of August, without a word of warning, an +indiscriminate massacre was inaugurated. A detachment of Company B of +the Fifth regiment, under command of Capt. Marsh, went to the scene +of the revolt, but they were ambushed and about twenty-five of their +number, including the captain, killed. The horrible work of murder, +pillage and destruction was spread throughout the entire Sioux +reservation, and whole families, especially those in isolated portions +of the country, were an easy prey to these fiendish warriors. + + * * * * * + +The Wyoming massacre during the Revolution and the Black Hawk and +Seminole wars at a later period, pale into insignificance when +compared to the great outrages committed by these demons during this +terrible outbreak. In less than one week 1,000 people had been killed, +several million dollars' worth of property destroyed and 30,000 people +rendered homeless. The entire country from Fort Ripley to the southern +boundary of the state, reaching almost to the mouth of the Minnesota +river, had been in a twinkling depopulated. How to repel these +invaders and drive them back to their reservations and out of the +state as they had forfeited all rights to the land they had occupied, +was the problem that suddenly confronted both the state and national +authorities. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after the news of the outbreak at Redwood had been received, +word was sent from Fort Ripley to the effect that the Chippewas were +assuming a warlike attitude, and it was feared that the Sioux and +Chippewas--hereditary enemies--had buried the hatchet, or had been +influenced by other causes, and were ready to co-operate in an +indiscriminate massacre of the whites. Indian Agent Walker undertook +to arrest the famous chief Hole-in-the-day, but that wily warrior had +scented danger and suddenly disappeared, with his entire band, which +caused grave apprehension among the settlers in that locality, and +they were in daily dread of an attack from these hitherto peaceable +tribes. + + * * * * * + +The suddenness with which the outbreak had occurred and the +extraordinary rapidity with which it spread, driving the defenseless +settlers from their homes and causing desolation and ruin on every +side, rendered it necessary for the governor to call an extra session +of the legislature for the purpose of devising means to arm and equip +volunteers, and assist the homeless refugees in procuring places of +shelter where they would be safe from molestation by these dusky +warriors. Could anything be more terrible than Gov. Ramsey's picture +of the ravages of these outlaws in his message to the legislature? +"Nothing which the brutal lust and wanton cruelty of these savages +could wreak upon their helpless and innocent victims was omitted from +the category of their crimes," said the governor. "Helplessness and +innocence, indeed, which would inspire pity in any heart but theirs, +seemed to inspire them only with a more fiendish rage. Infants hewn +into bloody chips of flesh or torn untimely from the womb of the +murdered mother, and in cruel mockery cast in fragments on her +pulseless and bleeding breast; rape joined to murder in one awful +tragedy; young girls, even children of tender years, outraged by +these brutal ravishers till death ended their shame; women held into +captivity to undergo the horrors of a living death; whole families +burned alive; and, as if their devilish fancy could not glut itself +with outrages on the living, the last efforts exhausted in mutilating +the bodies of the dead. Such are the spectacles, and a thousand +nameless horrors besides which this first experience of Indian +warfare has burned into the minds and hearts of our frontier people; +and such the enemy with whom we have to deal." + + * * * * * + +The old saying that the only good Indians are dead ones had a noble +exception in the person of Other Day, who piloted sixty-two men, +women and children across the country from below Yellow Medicine to +Kandiyohi, and from there to Hutchinson, Glencoe and Carver. Other Day +was an educated Indian and had been rather wild in his younger days, +but experienced a change of heart about four years before the outbreak +and had adopted the habits of civilization. Other Day arrived in St. +Paul a few days after he had piloted his party in safety to Carver, +and in the course of a few remarks to a large audience at Ingersoll +hall, which had assembled for the purpose of organizing a company of +home guards, he said: "I am a Dakota Indian, born and reared in the +midst of evil. I grew up without the knowledge of any good thing. I +have been instructed by Americans and taught to read and write. This +I found to be good. I became acquainted with the Sacred Writings, and +thus learned my vileness. At the present time I have fallen into great +evil and affliction, but have escaped from it, and with sixty-two men, +women and children, without moccasins, without food and without a +blanket, I have arrived in the midst of a great people, and now my +heart is glad. I attribute it to the mercy of the Great Spirit." Other +Day had been a member of the church for several years and his religion +taught him that the Great Spirit approved his conduct. + + * * * * * + +It was apparent that the Indian war was on in earnest. Ex-Gov. Sibley, +on account of his long familiarity with Indian character, was placed +in command of the troops ordered to assemble at St. Peter, and in +a few days, with detachments of the regiments then forming, +half-uniformed, poorly armed and with a scant supply of ammunition, +commenced offensive operations against the murderous redskins. The +newspapers and the people were crying "On to Ridgely!" which was then +beleaguered, with the same persistency as did Horace Greeyley howl "On +to Richmond!" previous to the disaster at Bull Run. + + * * * * * + +Any one who has seen the thrilling realistic Indian play of "The Girl +I Left Behind Me" can form some idea of the terrible suspense of the +little garrison at Port Ridgely previous to being relieved by the +forces under command of Gen. Sibley. Fort Ridgely was a fort only +in name, and consisted of two or three stone and several wooden +buildings, surrounded by a fence, which did not afford much protection +when attacked by a large force. The garrison was under the command of +Lieut. T.J. Sheehan. His force consisted of about 150 men from the +Fifth regiment, fifty men of the Renville Rangers, and a number of +civilians. He was surrounded by 700 or 800 Sioux, fully armed and +equipped. Although there were only two attempts made to capture the +garrison by assault, yet the siege was kept up for several days. In +addition to about 300 refugees who had gathered there for support +and protection, the $72,000 of annuity money, which had been so long +expected, arrived there the day before the outbreak. After bravely +defending the fort for more than a week, the little garrison was +relieved by the arrival of about 200 mounted volunteers under command +of Col. McPhail, being the advance of Gen. Sibley's command. During +the siege many of the men became short of musketry ammunition, and +spherical case shot were opened in the barracks and women worked with +busy hands making cartridges, while men cut nail rods in short pieces +and used them as bullets, their dismal whistling producing terror +among the redskins. + +Almost simultaneously with the attack on Fort Ridgely the Indians in +large numbers appeared in the vicinity of New Ulm, with the evident +intention of burning and pillaging the village. Judge Charles E. +Flandrau of this city, who was then residing at St. Peter, organized a +company of volunteers and marched across the country to the relief of +that place. The judge received several acquisitions to his force while +en route, and when he arrived at New Ulm found himself in command of +about 300 men, poorly armed and wholly without military experience. +They arrived at New Ulm just in time to assist the inhabitants in +driving the Indians from the upper part of the village, several +citizens having been killed and a number of houses burned. Two or +three days afterward the Indians appeared in large force, surrounded +the town and commenced burning the buildings on its outskirts. After +a desperate encounter, in which the force under command of Judge +Flandrau lost ten killed and about forty wounded, the Indians retired. +There were in the village at the time of the attack about 1,200 or +1,500 noncombatants, and every one of them would have been killed had +the Indian attack been successful. Provisions and ammunition becoming +scarce, the judge decided to evacuate the town and march across the +country to Mankato. They made up a train of about 150 wagons, loaded +them with women and children and the men who had been wounded in the +fight, and arrived safely in Mankato without being molested. Nearly +two hundred houses were burned before the town was evacuated, leaving +nothing standing but a few houses inside the hastily constructed +barricade. The long procession of families leaving their desolated +homes, many of them never to return, formed one of the saddest scenes +in the history of the outbreak, and will ever be remembered by the +gallant force under the command of Judge Flandrau, who led them to a +place of safety. + + * * * * * + +As soon as Gen. Sibley arrived at Fort Ridgely a detail of Company A +of the Sixth regiment, under command of Capt. H.P. Grant of St. Paul, +and seventy members of the Cullen Guards, under the command of Capt. +Jo Anderson, also of St. Paul, and several citizen volunteers, +all under the command of Maj. Joseph R. Brown, was sent out with +instructions to bury the dead and rescue the wounded, if any could +be found, from their perilous surroundings. They were St. Paul +organizations and most all of their members were St. Paul boys. They +never had had an opportunity to drill and most of them were not +familiar with the use of firearms. After marching for two days, during +which time they interred a large number of victims of the savage +Sioux, they went into camp at Birch Coulie, about fifteen miles from +Fort Ridgely. The encampment was on the prairie near a fringe of +timber and the coulie on one side and an elevation of about ten feet +on the other. It was a beautiful but very unfortunate location for the +command to camp, and would probably not have been selected had it been +known that they were surrounded by 400 or 500 hostile warriors. Maj. +Brown had about one hundred and fifty men under his command. About 4 +o'clock on the following morning the Indians, to the number of 500 or +600, well armed and most of them mounted, commenced an indiscriminate +fire upon the almost helpless little command. For two days they +bravely defended themselves, and when relief finally arrived it was +found that about half their number had been killed or wounded. When +the news of the disaster reached St. Paul there was great excitement. +Relatives and friends of the dead and wounded were outspoken in +their denunciation of the civil and military authorities who were +responsible for this great sacrifice of the lives of our citizens. It +was feared that the city itself was in danger of an attack from the +savages. Home guards were organized and the bluffs commanding a view +of the city were nightly patrolled by citizen volunteers. There was no +telegraph at that time and rumors of all sorts were flying thick +and fast. Every courier reaching the city would bring news of fresh +outrages, and our panic-stricken citizens had hardly time to recover +from the effect of one disaster before the news of another would be +received. Settlers fleeing from their homes for places of safety were +arriving by the score, leaving crops to perish in the field and their +houses to be destroyed. The situation was appalling, and many of our +citizens were predicting the most direful results should the army fail +to check the savage hordes in their work of devastation and ruin. + +Every boat from the Minnesota river would be crowded with refugees, +and the people of St. Paul were often called upon to assist in +forwarding them to their place of destination. + +Home guards were organized in almost every village of the threatened +portion of the state, but the authorities could not furnish arms +or ammunition and their services would have been of little account +against the well-armed savages in case they had been attacked. + +Advertisements appeared in the St. Paul newspapers offering rewards of +$25 a piece for Sioux scalps. + + * * * * * + +Gov. Ramsey endeavored to allay the apprehensions of the people and +published in the papers a statement to the effect that the residents +of the Capital City need not be alarmed, as the nearest approach of +the Indians was at Acton, Meeker county, 80 miles away; Fort Ripley, +150 miles away, and the scenes of the tragedy in Yellow Medicine +county, 210 miles distant. This may have been gratifying to the +residents of the Capital City, but was far from reassuring to the +frontiersmen who were compelled to abandon their homes and were +seeking the protection of the slowly advancing militia. + + * * * * * + +About 12 o'clock one night during the latter part of August a report +was circulated over the northern and western portion of St. Paul that +the savages were near the city, and many women and children were +aroused from their slumber and hastily dressed and sought the +protection of the city authorities. It was an exciting but rather +amusing episode in the great tragedy then taking place on the +frontier. Rumors of this character were often circulated, and it was +not until after the battle of Wood Lake that the people of St. Paul +felt that they were perfectly safe from raids by the hostile Sioux. + + * * * * * + +As soon as Gen. Sibley had collected a sufficient force to enable +him to move with safety he decided upon offensive operations. He had +collected about 2,000 men from the regiments then forming, including +the Third regiment, recently paroled, and a battery under command of +Capt. Mark Hendricks. The expedition marched for two or three days +without encountering opposition, but on the morning of the 23d of +September several foraging parties belonging to the Third regiment +were fired upon in the vicinity of Wood Lake. About 800 of the command +were engaged in the encounter and were opposed by about an equal +number of Indians. After a spirited engagement Col. Marshall, with +about 400 men, made a double-quick charge upon the Sioux and succeeded +in utterly routing them. Our loss was four killed and forty or fifty +wounded. This was the only real battle of the war. Other Day was with +the whites and took a conspicuous part in the encounter. After +the battle Gen. Pope, who was in command of the department of the +Northwest, telegraphed the war department that the Indian war was +over and asked what disposition to make of the troops then under his +command. This request of Gen. Pope was met with a decided remonstrance +by the people of Minnesota, and they succeeded in preventing the +removal of any of the troops until they had made two long marches +through the Dakotas and to Montana. Gen. Sibley's command reached Camp +Release on the 26th of September, in the vicinity of which was +located a large camp of Indians, most of whom had been engaged in the +massacres. They had with them about two hundred and fifty mixed bloods +and white women and children, and the soldiers were very anxious to +precede at once to their rescue. Gen. Sibley was of the opinion that +any hostile demonstration would mean the annihilation of all the +prisoners, and therefore proceeded with the utmost caution. After a +few preliminary consultations the entire camp surrendered and the +captives were released. As soon as possible Gen. Sibley made inquiries +as to the participation of these Indians in the terrible crimes +recently perpetrated, and it soon developed that a large number of +them had been guilty of the grossest atrocities. The general decided +to form a military tribunal and try the offenders. After a series of +sittings, lasting from the 30th of September to the 5th of November, +321 of the fiends were found guilty of the offenses charged, 303 of +whom were sentenced to death and the rest condemned to various terms +of imprisonment according to their crimes. All of the condemned +prisoners were taken to Mankato and were confined in a large jail +constructed for the purpose. After the court-martial had completed +its work and the news of its action had reached the Eastern cities, +a great outcry was made that Minnesota was contemplating a wholesale +slaughter of the beloved red man. The Quakers of Philadelphia and the +good people of Massachusetts sent many remonstrances to the president +to put a stop to the proposed wholesale execution. The president, +after consulting his military advisers, decided to permit the +execution of only thirty-eight of the most flagrant cases, and +accordingly directed them to be hung on the 26th of December, 1862. + + * * * * * + +Previous to their execution the condemned prisoners were interviewed +by Rev. S.R. Riggs, to whom they made their dying confessions. Nearly +every one of them claimed to be innocent of the crimes charged to +them. Each one had some word to send to his parents or family, and +when speaking of their wives and children almost every one was +affected to tears. Most of them spoke confidently of their hope of +salvation, and expected to go at once to the abode of the Great +Spirit. Rattling Runner, who was a son-in-law of Wabasha, dictated the +following letter, which is a sample of the confessions made to Dr. +Riggs: "Wabasha, you have deceived me. You told me if we followed the +advice of Gen. Sibley and gave ourselves up, all would be well--no +innocent man would be injured. I have not killed or injured a white +man or any white person. I have not participated in the plunder of +their property; and yet to-day I am set apart for execution and must +die, while men who are guilty will remain in prison. My wife is your +daughter, my children are your grandchildren. I leave them all in your +care and under your protection. Do not let them suffer, and when they +are grown up let them know that their father died because he followed +the advice of his chief, and without having the blood of a white man +to answer for to the Holy Spirit. My wife and children are dear to me. +Let them not grieve for me; let them remember that the brave should be +prepared to meet death, and I will do as becomes a Dakotah." + +Wabasha was a Sioux chief, and although he was not found guilty of +participating in any of the massacres of women and children, he was +probably in all the most important battles. Wabasha county, and +Wabasha street in St. Paul were named after his father. + +After the execution the bodies were taken down, loaded into wagons and +carried down to a sandbar in front of the city, where they were all +dumped into the same hole. They did not remain there long, but were +spirited away by students and others familiar with the use of a +dissecting knife. + +Little Crow, the chief instigator of the insurrection was not with the +number that surrendered, but escaped and was afterward killed by a +farmer named Lamson, in the vicinity of Hutchinson. His scalp is now +in the state historical society. Little Crow was born in Kaposia, a +few miles below St. Paul, and was always known as a bad Indian. Little +Crow's father was friendly to the whites, and it was his dying wish +that his son should assume the habits of civilized life and accustom +himself to the new order of things, but the dying admonitions of the +old man were of little avail and Little Crow soon became a dissolute, +quarrelsome and dangerous Indian. He was opposed to all change of +dress and habits of life, and was very unfriendly to missionaries and +teachers. He was seldom known to tell the truth and possessed very few +redeeming qualities. Although greatly disliked by many of the Indians, +he was the acknowledged head of the war party and by common consent +assumed the direction of all the hostile tribes in their fruitless +struggle against the whites. + + * * * * * + +Between the conviction and execution of the condemned Indians there +was great excitement throughout the Minnesota valley lest the +president should pardon the condemned. Meetings were held throughout +the valley and organizations were springing into existence for the +purpose of overpowering the strong guard at Mankato and wreaking +summary justice upon the Indians. The situation became so serious +pending the decision of the president that the governor was compelled +to issue a proclamation calling upon all good citizens not to tarnish +the fair name of the state by an act of lawlessness that the outside +world would never forget, however great was the provocation. When +the final order came to execute only thirty-eight there was great +disappointment. Petitions were circulated in St. Paul and generally +signed favoring the removal of the condemned Indians to Massachusetts +to place them under the refining influence of the constituents of +Senator Hoar, the same people who are now so terribly shocked because +a humane government is endeavoring to prevent, in the Philippines, a +repetition of the terrible atrocities committed in Minnesota. + + * * * * * + +The balance of the condemned were kept in close confinement till +spring, when they were taken to Davenport, and afterward to some point +on the Missouri river, where a beneficent government kindly permitted +them to sow the seed of discontent that finally culminated in the +Custer massacre. When it was known that the balance of the condemned +Indians were to be transported to Davenport by steamer. St. Paul +people made preparations to give them a warm reception as they passed +down the river, but their intentions were frustrated by the government +officers in charge of their removal, as they arranged to have the +steamer Favorite, on which they were to be transported, pass by the +city in the middle of the night. St. Paul people were highly indignant +when apprised of their escape. + +Little Six and Medicine Bottle, two Sioux chiefs engaged in the +outbreak, were arrested at Fort Gary (Winnipeg), and delivered at +Pembina in January, 1864, and were afterward taken to Fort Snelling, +where they were tried, condemned and executed in the presence of +10,000 people, being the last of the Indians to receive capital +punishment for their great crimes. Little Six confessed to having +murdered fifty white men, women and children. + + * * * * * + +One of the most perplexing problems the military authorities had to +contend with was the transportation of supplies to the troops on the +frontier. There were, of course, no railroads, and the only way to +transport provisions was by wagon. An order was issued by the military +authorities requesting the tender of men and teams for this purpose, +but the owners of draft horses did not respond with sufficient +alacrity to supply the pressing necessities of the army, and it +was necessary for the authorities to issue another order forcibly +impressing into service of the government any and all teams that could +be found on the streets or in stables. A detachment of Company K of +the Eighth regiment was sent down from the fort and remained in the +city several days on that especial duty. As soon as the farmers heard +that the government was taking possession of everything that came over +the bridge they ceased hauling their produce to the city and carried +it to Hastings. There was one silver-haired farmer living near the +city limits by the name of Hilks, whose sympathies were entirely with +the South, and he had boasted that all of Uncle Sam's hirelings could +not locate his team. One of the members of Company K was a former +neighbor of the disloyal farmer, and he made it his particular duty +to see that this team, at least, should be loyal to the government. A +close watch was kept on him, and one morning he was seen to drive down +to the west side of the bridge and tie his team behind a house, where +he thought they would be safe until he returned. As soon as the old +man passed over the bridge the squad took possession of his horses, +and when he returned the team was on the way to Abercrombie laden +with supplies for the troops at the fort. Of course the government +subsequently reimbursed the owners of the teams for their use, but in +this particular case the soldiers did not think the owner deserved it. + +Gov. Ramsey's carriage team was early taken possession of by the +military squad, and when the driver gravely informed the officer in +charge that the governor was the owner of that team and he thought it +exempt from military duty, he was suavely informed that a power +higher than the governor required that team and that it must go to +Abercrombie. And it did. + + * * * * * + +It was necessary to send out a large escort with these supply trains +and It was easier to procure men for that purpose than it was for the +regular term of enlistment. On one of the trains that left St. Paul +was a young man by the name of Hines. He was as brave as Julius +Caesar. He said so himself. He was so heavily loaded with various +weapons of destruction that his companions called him a walking +arsenal. If Little Crow had attacked this particular train the Indian +war would have ended. This young man had been so very demonstrative of +his ability to cope with the entire Sioux force that his companions +resolved to test his bravery. One night when the train was camped +about half way between St. Cloud and Sauk Center, several of the +guards attached to the train painted their faces, arrayed themselves +in Indian costume and charged through the camp, yelling the Indian war +hoop and firing guns in every direction. Young Hines was the first to +hear the alarm, and didn't stop running until he reached St. Cloud, +spreading the news in every direction that the entire tribe of +Little Crow was only a short distance behind. Of course there was +consternation along the line of this young man's masterly retreat, +and it was some time before the panic-stricken citizens knew what had +actually happened. + + * * * * * + +In response to the appeal of Gov. Sibley and other officers on the +frontier, the ladies of St. Paul early organized for the purpose of +furnishing sick and wounded soldiers with such supplies as were not +obtainable through the regular channels of the then crude condition of +the various hospitals. Notices like the following often appeared in +the daily papers at that time: "Ladies Aid Society--A meeting of the +ladies' aid society for the purpose of sewing for the relief of the +wounded soldiers at our forts, and also for the assistance of the +destitute refugees now thronging our city, is called to meet this +morning at Ingersoll hall. All ladies interested in this object are +earnestly invited to attend. All contributions of either money or +clothing will be thankfully received. By order of the president, + +"Mrs. Stella Selby. + +"Miss M.O. Holyoke, Secretary." + +Mrs. Selby was the wife of John W. Selby, one of the first residents +of the city, Miss Holyoke was the Clara Barton of Minnesota, devoting +her whole time and energy to the work of collecting sanitary supplies +for the needy soldiers in the hospitals. + +Scores of poor soldiers who were languishing in hospital tents on +the sunburnt and treeless prairies of the Dakotas, or suffering from +disease contracted in the miasmatic swamps of the rebellious South +have had their hearts gladdened and their bodies strengthened by being +supplied with the delicacies collected through the efforts of +the noble and patriotic ladies of this and kindred organizations +throughout the state. + +Many instances are recorded of farmers leaving their harvesters in the +field and joining the grand army then forming for the defense of the +imperilled state and nation, while their courageous and energetic +wives have gone to the fields and finished harvesting the ripened +crops. + + * * * * * + +By reason of the outbreak the Sioux forfeited to the government, in +addition to an annual annuity of $68,000 for fifty years, all the +lands they held in Minnesota, amounting in the aggregate to about +750,000 acres, worth at the present time something like $15,000,000. +Had they behaved themselves and remained In possession of this immense +tract of land, they would have been worth twice as much per capita as +any community in the United States. + + + + +FIREMEN AND FIRES OF PIONEER DAYS. + +A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ST. PAUL, FIRE DEPARTMENT--PIONEER HOOK AND +LADDER COMPANY--HOPE ENGINE COMPANY AND MINNEHAHA ENGINE COMPANY--A +LARGE NUMBER OF HOTEL FIRES. + + +WHEN WE RAN WITH THE OLD MACHINE. + + * * * * * + + Brave relics of the past are we, + Old firemen, staunch and true, + We're thinking now of days gone by + And all that we've gone through. + Thro' fire and flames we've made our way, + And danger we have seen; + We never can forget the time + When we ran with the old machine. + + In numbers now we are but few, + A host have pased away, + But still we're happy, light and free, + Our spirits never decay + We often sigh for those old days + Whose memory we keep green, + Oh! there was joy for man and boy, + When we ran with the old machine. + --Gus Wiliams. + + * * * * * + +Instruments for extinguishing fires were introduced in various parts +of Europe more than three hundred years ago. The fire laddies of that +period would probably look aghast if they could see the implements +in use at the present time. One of the old time machines is said to +consist of a huge tank of water placed upon wheels, drawn by a large +number of men, and to which was attached a small hose. When the water +in the tank became exhausted it was supplied by a bucket brigade, +something on the plan in use at the present time in villages not able +to support an engine. + +The oldest record of a fire engine in Paris was one used in the king's +library in 1684, which, having but one cylinder, threw water to a +great height, a result obtained by the use of an air chamber. Leather +hose was introduced into Amsterdam in 1670, by two Dutchmen, and they +also invented the suction pipe at about the same period. About the +close of the seventeenth century an improved engine was patented in +England. It was a strong cistern of oak placed upon wheels, furnished +with a pump, an air chamber and a suction pipe of strong leather, +through which run a spiral piece of metal. This engine was little +improved until the early part of the last century. + +In the United States bucket fire departments were organized in most of +the cities in the early part of the last century, and hand engines, +used by the old volunteer firemen, did not come into general use until +about fifty years later. The New York volunteer fire department was +for a long time one of the institutions of the country. When they had +their annual parade the people of the surrounding towns would flock +to the city and the streets would be as impassible as they are to-day +when a representative of one of the royal families of Europe is placed +on exhibition. At the New York state fairs during the early '50s the +tournaments of the volunteer fire department of the various cities +throughout the state formed one of the principal attractions. Many +a melee occurred between the different organizations because they +considered that they had not been properly recognized in the line of +march or had not been awarded a medal for throwing a stream of water +farther than other competitors. + +A Berlin correspondent of the Pioneer Press many years ago, said that +when an alarm of fire was sounded in the city, the members of the fire +companies would put on their uniforms and report to their various +engine houses. When a sufficient number had assembled to make a +showing the foreman would call the roll, beer would be passed down the +line, the health of the kaiser properly remembered and then they would +start out in search of the fire. As a general thing the fire would +be out long before they arrived upon the scene, and they would then +return to their quarters, have another beer and be dismissed. + +To Cincinnati belongs the credit of having introduced the first paid +steam fire department in the United States, but all the other large +cities rapidly followed. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1850 the town fathers of St. Paul passed an ordinance +requiring the owners of all buildings, public or private, to provide +and keep in good repair, substantial buckets, marked with paint the +word "Fire" on one side and the owner's name on the other, subject +to inspection by the fire warden and to be under his control when +occasion required. The first attempt at organizing a fire brigade, was +made by R.C. Knox in the fall of 1851. Mr. Knox raised a small sum of +money by subscription, with which he purchased several ladders, and +they were frequently brought into requisition by the little band of +men whom Mr. Knox had associated with him. Mr. Knox was a man of +enormous stature, and it was said he could tire out a dozen ordinary +men at a fire. + + * * * * * + +Two public-spirited citizens of St. Paul, John McCloud and Thompson +Ritchie, purchased in the East and brought to the city at their own +expense the first fire engine introduced in the Northwest. Although +it was a miniature affair, on numerous occasions it rendered valuable +assistance in protecting the property of our pioneer merchants. Mr. +Ritchie is still living, his home being in Philadelphia. + + * * * * * + +In November, 1854, Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized +under provisions of the city charter. A constitution and by-laws were +adopted and the members agreed to turn out promptly on all occasions +of fire alarms. As compensation for their services they were excused +from jury duty, poll tax, work on the roads, or state military +service, for the period of five years. The original constitution of +the Pioneer Hook and Ladder company contained the following membership +roll: Foreman, Isaac A. Banker; assistant foremen, H.B. Pearson and +George F. Blake; treasurer, Richard Galloway; secretary, Robert Mason; +members, Henry Buell, John W. Cathcart, Charles D. Elfelt, Edward +Heenan, Thompson Ritchie, Philip Ross, Wash. M. Stees, J.W. Stevenson, +Benjamin F. Irvine, R.I. Thomson, John McCloud, J.Q.A. Ward, Charles +J. Williams. Of the above John McCloud is the only one living in the +city at the present time. Mr. McCloud was a member of the firm of +McCloud & Bro., hardware dealers, and they occupied the building on +the southwest corner of Third and Cedar streets. + +This was the first full-fledged fire organization in the city, and as +Mr. McCloud took the initiative in forming this company he may justly +be called the "Father of the Volunteer Fire Department of St. Paul." + +The old hook and ladder company was one of the representative +institutions of the city. From the date of its organization up to the +time of the establishment of the paid fire department many of the most +prominent men of the city were enrolled among its members. All of the +property of the company was owned by the organization, but in 1856, +having become somewhat financially embarrassed, their accounts were +turned over to the city and they were thereafter under the control of +the city fathers. At that time they possessed one truck, hooks and +ladders, and one fire engine with hose. Washington M. Stees was +made chief engineer and Charles H. Williams assistant. This scanty +equipment did not prove adequate for extinguishing fires and petitions +were circulated requesting the council to purchase two fire engines of +the more approved pattern, and also to construct a number of cisterns +in the central part of the city, so that an adequate supply of water +could be readily obtained. The city fathers concluded to comply with +the request of the petitioners and they accordingly purchased two +double-deck hand fire engines and they arrived in the city in August, +1858. They were soon tested and pronounced satisfactory. Our citizens +then congratulated themselves upon the possession of a first-class +fire department and they predicted that thereafter a great fire would +be a thing of the past. + +One of the most irrepressible members of Pioneer Hook and Ladder +company in the early days was a little red-headed Irishman by the name +of A.D. Martin. He was foreman of the Daily Minnesotian office and he +usually went by the name of "Johnny Martin." Now Johnny always kept +his fire paraphernalia close at hand, and every time a fire bell +sounded he was "Johnny on the spot." After the fire was over Johnny +generally had to celebrate, and every time Johnny celebrated he would +make a solemn declaration that it was his duty to kill an Irishman +before he returned to work. He would accordingly provide himself with +an immense Derringer and start out in quest of a subject upon whom he +proposed to execute his sanguinary threat. Strange to relate he +never succeeded in finding one of his unfortunate countrymen, and it +generally required two or three days to restore him to his former +equilibrium. If Johnny was a member of the fire department to-day he +would probably discover that the task of finding one of his countrymen +would not be so difficult. + + * * * * * + +In 1857 Hope Engine Company No. 1 was organized, and they petitioned +the common council to purchase 500 feet of hose for their use. In +the fall of 1858 this company was given possession of one of the new +engines recently purchased and it was comfortably housed at their +headquarters in an old frame building on the southwest corner of +Franklin and Fourth streets, and in a short time removed to a new +brick building on Third street, fronting on Washington. Michael Leroy +was made the first foreman and R.C. Wiley and Joseph S. Herey were +his assistants. The membership contained the names of John H. Dodge, +Porteus Dodge, John E. Missen, Joseph Elfelt, Fred Whipperman, John T. +Toal, J.H. Barstow, J.C. Grand, Charles Riehl, John Raguet, E. Rhodes, +B. Bradley, Charles Hughes, Bird Boesch, T.F. Masterson, John J. +Williams and V. Metzger. During the fall of 1858 a large number of the +most prominent business men in the vicinity of Seven Corners joined +the organization and continued in active membership until the arrival +of the first steamer. + + * * * * * + +In the winter of 1857-1858 Minnehaha Engine. Company No. 2 was +organized, and it was provided with an engine house near the corner +of Third and Jackson streets. The first officers were H.P. Grant, +foreman; M.J. O'Connor and H.B. Terwilliger, assistants; members, +Harry M. Shaw, Nicholas Hendy, John B. Oliver, F.A. Cariveau, H.A. +Schlick. C.D. Hadway, N. Nicuhaus, L.R. Storing, William T. Donaldson, +Daniel Rohrer, J. Fletcher Williams, N. W. Kittson, Alfred Bayace, +John McCauley and a number of others. The Minnehahas were a prosperous +organization from the first, and their engine house was always kept +open and served as a general lounging and reading-room for such of its +members as had nothing particular to do. + + * * * * * + +Rotary Independent Company No. 1 was the third engine connected with +the St. Paul fire department, but that was a private institution and +was only used when there was a general alarm and on the days of the +annual parade of the department. This engine was purchased from the +government by John S. Prince when Fort Snelling was abandoned, and was +used for the protection of the property of the mill, which was located +on lower Third street. + + * * * * * + +By the formation of Minnehaha Engine company the city fathers thought +they were possessed of quite a respectable fire department, and from +that time on the annual parade of the St. Paul fire department was one +of the events of the year. The first parade occurred on the 12th +of September, 1859, and was participated in by the following +organizations: + + Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. + Hope Engine Company No. 1. + Minnehaha Engine Company No. 2. + Rotary Independent Company No. 1. + +These four companies numbered 175 men, and after completing their line +of march were reviewed by the mayor and common council in front of the +old city hall. + +In 1858 the legislature passed an act requiring the sextons of the +different churches to ring the church bells fifteen minutes whenever +there was an alarm of fire. The uptown churches would ring their +bells, the downtown churches would ring their bells, and the churches +in the central part of the city would ring their bells. There was a +regular banging and clanging of the bells. + + "In the startled air of night, + They would scream out their afright, + Too much horrified to speak, + They could only shriek, shriek, + Out of tune." + +Every one turned out when the fire bells rang. Unless the fire was of +sufficient volume to be readily located, the uptown people would be +seen rushing downtown, and the downtown people would be seen rushing +uptown, in fact, general pandemonium prevailed until the exact +location of the fire could be determined. + +Whenever there was a large fire the regular firemen would soon tire +of working on the brakes and they would appeal to the spectators to +relieve them for a short time. As a general thing the appeal would be +readily responded to, but occasionally it would be necessary for the +police to impress into service a force sufficient to keep the brakes +working. Any person refusing to work on the brakes was liable to +arrest and fine, and it was often amusing to see the crowds disperse +whenever the police were in search of a relief force. + + * * * * * + +Upon the breaking out of the war a large number of the firemen +enlisted in the defense of the country and the ranks of the department +were sadly decimated. It was during the early part of the war that the +mayor of St. Paul made a speech to the firemen at the close of their +annual parade in which he referred to them as being as brave if not +braver than the boys at the front. The friends of the boys in blue +took serious umbrage at this break of the mayor, and the press of the +city and throughout the state were very indignant to think that the +capital city possessed a mayor of doubtful loyalty. The excitement +soon died away and the mayor was re-elected by a large majority. + + * * * * * + +There was not much change in the condition of the department until +the arrival of the first steamer, Aug. 11, 1866. The new steamer was +lodged with Hope Engine company, and an engineer and fireman appointed +at a salary of $1,600 per year for the two. The boys of Hope Engine +company did not like the selection of the engineer of the new steamer +and took the matter so seriously that their organization was disbanded +and St. Paul Hose Company No. 1 was organized, and they took charge +of the new steamer. The rapid growth of the city necessitated the +frequent purchase of new fire apparatus, and at the present time the +St. Paul fire department has 211 paid men, 15 steamers, 4 chemicals, 8 +hook and ladder companies and 122 horses. + + * * * * * + +The volunteer fire department had no better friend than the late Mrs. +Bartlett Presley. She was the guardian angel of the fire department. +No night so cold or storm so great that Mrs. Presley was not present +and with her own hands provide coffee and sandwiches for the tired and +hungry firemen who had been heroically battling with the flames. She +was an honored guest at all entertainments with which the firemen +were connected, and was always toasted and feasted by the boys at the +brakes. She will ever be remembered, not only by the firemen, but by +all old settlers, as one of the many noble women in St. Paul whose +unostentatious deeds of charity have caused a ray of sunshine in many +sad homes. + +Mrs. Presley's death was deeply regretted, not only by the fire +department, but by every resident of the city. + + * * * * * + +Among the many brilliant members of the legal fraternity in St. Paul +in early times no one possessed a more enviable reputation than +the Hon. Michael E. Ames. He was the very personification of +punctiliousness and always displayed sublime imperturbability in +exigencies of great moment. One dreary winter night his sleeping +apartment in uppertown was discovered to be on fire, and in a short +time the fire laddies appeared in front of his quarters and commenced +operations. As soon as Mr. Ames discovered the nature of the +disturbance he arose from his bed, opened the window, and with +outstretched arms and in a supplicating manner, as if addressing a +jury in an important case, exclaimed: "Gentlemen, if you will be kind +enough to desist from operations until I arrange my toilet, I will be +down." The learned counsel escaped with his toilet properly adjusted, +but his apartments were soon incinerated. + + * * * * * + +HOTEL FIRES. + + * * * * * + +LIST OF HOTELS DESTROYED BY FIRE DURING ST. PAUL'S EARLY HISTORY. + + Daniels house, near Seven Corners. + Sintominie hotel, Sixth street. + Rice house, near Rice Park. + New England hotel, Third street + Hotel to the Wild Hunter, Jackson street. + Montreal house, Robert street. + Canada house, Robert street. + Winslow house, Seven Corners. + American house, Third street. + International hotel, Seventh and Jackson streets. + Franklin house, Marshall avenue. + Dakota house, Seven Corners. + Washington house, Seven Corners. + Cosmopolitan hotel, Third street. + Western house, Third street. + Garden City house, Fourth street. + City hotel, Fourth street. + Central house, Bench street. + Emmert house, Bench street. + St. Paul house, Bench street. + Luxemborg hotel, Franklin street. + Farmers' hotel, Fourth street. + Greenman house, Fifth street. + Mansion house, Wabasha street. + Haine's hotel, Lake Como. + Aldrich house, Lake Como. + Park Place hotel, Summit avenue. + Carpenter house, Summit avenue. + Paul Faber's hotel, Third street. + + * * * * * + +The first hotel fire of any importance was that of the Daniels house, +located on Eagle street near Seven Corners, which occurred in 1852. +The building had just been finished and furnished for occupancy. A +strong wind was raging and the little band of firemen were unable +to save the structure. The names of Rev. D.D. Neill, Isaac Markley, +Bartlett Presley and W.M. Stees were among the firemen who assisted in +saving the furniture. + + * * * * * + +The Sintominie hotel on the corner of Sixth and John streets, was the +second hotel to receive a visit from the fire king. This hotel was +constructed by the late C.W. Borup, and it was the pride of lower +town. Howard Ward and E.C. Rich were preparing to open it when the +fire occurred. Owing to the lack of fire protection the building was +totally destroyed. + + * * * * * + +Early in the winter of 1856 the Rice house, commonly supposed to +be the first brick building erected in St. Paul, was burned to the +ground. It was three stories high, and when in process of building was +considered a visionary enterprise. The building was constructed by +Henry M. Rice, and he spared no expense to make it as complete as the +times would allow. It was situated on Third street near Market, and +in the early days was considered St. Paul's principal hotel. In its +parlor and barroom the second session of the territorial legislature +was held, and the supreme court of the territory also used it for +several terms. + + * * * * * + +The Canada house and the Galena house, two small frame structures on +Robert near Third, were the next hotels to be visited by the fiery +element. These hotels, though small, were well patronized at the time +of their destruction. + + * * * * * + +On the 16th of March, 1860, the most destructive fire that had ever +occurred in St. Paul broke out in a small wooden building on Third +street near Jackson, and though the entire fire department--three +engines and one truck, manned by one hundred men--were promptly on +hand, the flames rapidly got beyond their reach. Nearly all the +buildings on Third street at that time from Robert to Jackson were +two-story frame structures, and in their rear were small houses +occupied by the owners of the stores. When the fire was at its height +it was feared that the whole of lower town would be destroyed before +the flames could be subdued, but by dint of superhuman effort the +firemen managed to cut off the leap across Robert street and soon had +the immense smouldering mass under control. Thirty-four buildings, the +largest number ever destroyed in St. Paul, were in ashes. Of the two +blocks which lined the north and south sides of Third street above +Jackson, only three buildings were left standing, two being stone +structures occupied by Beaumont & Gordon and Bidwell & Co., and +the other a four-story brick building owned and occupied by A.L. +Larpenteur. The New England, a two-story log house, and one of the +first hotels built in St. Paul was among the ruins. The New England +was a feature in St. Paul, and it was pointed out to newcomers as the +first gubernatorial mansion, and in which Gov. and Mrs. Ramsey had +begun housekeeping in 1849. The Empire saloon was another historic +ruin, for in its main portion the first printing office of the +territory had long held forth, and from it was issued the first +Pioneer, April 10, 1849. The Hotel to the Wild Hunter was also +destroyed at this fire. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1862 the Winslow house, located at Seven Corners, was +entirely destroyed by fire. A defective stovepipe in the cupola caused +the fire, and it spread so rapidly that it was beyond the control +of the firemen when they arrived upon the scene. A few pieces of +furniture, badly damaged, was all that was saved of this once popular +hotel. The Winslow was a four-story brick building, and with the +exception of the Fuller house the largest hotel in the city. The hotel +was constructed in 1854 by the late J.M. Winslow. Mr. Winslow was one +of the most ingenious hotel constructors in the West. In some peculiar +manner he was enabled to commence the construction of a building +without any capital, but when the building was completed he not only +had the building, but a bank account that indicated that he was a +financier as well as a builder. The proprietors of the Winslow were +arrested for incendarism, but after a preliminary examination were +discharged. + + * * * * * + +The American house, on the corner of Third and Exchange streets, was +one of the landmarks of the city for a good many years. It was built +in 1849, and the territorial politicians generally selected this hotel +as their headquarters. Although it was of very peculiar architecture, +the interior fittings were of a modern character. On a stormy night in +the month of December, 1863, an alarm of fire was sent in from this +hotel, but before the fire department reached the locality the fire +was beyond their control. The weather was bitter cold, and the water +would be frozen almost as soon as it left the hose. Finding their +efforts fruitless to save the building, the firemen turned their +attention to saving the guests. There were some very narrow escapes, +but no accidents of a very serious nature. As usual, thieves were +present and succeeded in carrying off a large amount of jewelry and +wearing apparel belonging to the guests. + + * * * * * + +In the year of 1856 Mackubin & Edgerton erected a fine three-story +brick building on the corner of Third and Franklin streets. It was +occupied by them as a banking house for a long time. The business +center having been moved further down the street, they were compelled +to seek quarters on Bridge Square. After the bank moved out of +this building it was leased to Bechtner & Kottman, and was by them +remodeled into a hotel on the European plan at an expense of about +$20,000. It was named the Cosmopolitan hotel, and was well patronized. +When the alarm of fire was given it was full of lodgers, many of whom +lost all they possessed. The Linden theatrical company, which was +playing at the Athenaeum, was among the heavy sufferers. At this fire +a large number of frame buildings on the opposite side of the street +were destroyed. + +When the Cosmopolitan hotel burned the walls of the old building were +left standing, and although they were pronounced dangerous by the city +authorities, had not been demolished. Dr. Schell, one of the best +known physicians of the city, occupied a little frame building near +the hotel, and he severely denounced the city authorities for their +lax enforcement of the law. One night at 10 o'clock the city was +visited by a terrific windstorm, and suddenly a loud crash was heard +in the vicinity of the doctor's office. A portion of the walls of the +hotel had fallen and the little building occupied by the doctor had +been crushed in. The fire alarm was turned on and the fire laddies +were soon on the spot. No one supposed the doctor was alive, but after +the firemen had been at work a short time they could hear the voice +of the doctor from underneath the rubbish. In very vigorous English, +which the doctor knew so well how to use, he roundly upbraided the +fire department for not being more expeditious in extricating him from +his perilous position. After the doctor had been taken out of the +ruins It was found that he had not been seriously injured, and in the +course of a few weeks was able to resume practice. + + * * * * * + +During the winter of 1868 the Emmert house, situated on Bench street +near Wabasha, was destroyed by fire. The Emmert house was built in +territorial times by Fred Emmert, who for some time kept a hotel and +boarding house at that place. It had not been used for hotel purposes +for some time, but was occupied by a colored family and used as a +boarding-house for colored people. While the flames were rapidly +consuming the old building the discovery was made that a man and +his wife were sick in one of the rooms with smallpox. The crowd of +onlookers fled in terror, and they would have been burned alive had +not two courageous firemen carried them out of the building. It was +an unusually cold night and the colored people were dumped into the +middle of the street and there allowed to remain. They were provided +with clothing and some of the more venturesome even built a fire for +them, but no one would volunteer to take them to a place of shelter. +About 10 o'clock on the following day the late W.L. Wilson learned +of the unfortunate situation of the two colored people, and he +immediately procured a vehicle and took them to a place of safety, and +also saw that they were thereafter properly cared for. + + * * * * * + +On the site of the old postoffice on the corner of Wabasha and Fifth +streets stood the Mansion house, a three-story frame building erected +by Nicholas Pottgieser in early days at an expense of $12,000. It was +a very popular resort and for many years the weary traveler there +received a hearty welcome. + +A very exciting event occurred at this house during the summer of +1866. A man by the name of Hawkes, a guest at the hotel, accidentally +shot and instantly killed his young and beautiful wife. He was +arrested and tried for murder, but after a long and sensational trial +was acquited. + + * * * * * + +The greatest hotel fire in the history of St. Paul occurred on the +night of Feb. 3, 1869. The International hotel (formerly the Fuller +house) was situated on the northeast corner of Seventh and Jackson +streets, and was erected by A.G. Fuller in 1856. It was built of brick +and was five stories high. It cost when completed, about $110,000. For +years it had been the best hotel in the West. William H. Seward and +the distinguished party that accompanied him made this hotel their +headquarters during their famous trip to the West in 1860. Gen. Pope +and Gen. Sibley had their headquarters in this building, and from here +emanated all the orders relating to the war against the rebellious +Sioux. In 1861 the property came into the possession of Samuel Mayall, +and he changed the name of it from Fuller house to International +hotel. Col. E.C. Belote, who had formerly been the landlord of the +Merchants, was the manager of the hotel. The fire broke out in the +basement, it was supposed from a lamp in the laundry. The night was +intensely cold, a strong gale blowing from the northwest. Not a soul +could be seen upon the street. Within this great structure more than +two hundred guests were wrapped in silent slumber. To rescue them from +their perilous position was the problem that required instant action +on the part of the firemen and the hotel authorities. The legislature +was then in session, and many of the members were among the guests who +crowded the hotel. A porter was the first to notice the blaze, and +he threw a pail water upon it, but with the result that it made no +impression upon the flames. The fire continued to extend, and the +smoke became very dense and spread into the halls, filling them +completely, rendering breathing almost an impossibility. In the +meantime the alarm had been given throughout the house, and the +guests, both male and female, came rushing out of the rooms in their +night Clothes. The broad halls of the hotel were soon filled with a +crowd of people who hardly knew which way to go in order to find their +way to the street. The servant girls succeeded in getting out first, +and made their way to the snow-covered streets without sufficient +clothing to protect their persons, and most of them were without +shoes. While the people were escaping from the building the fire was +making furious and rapid progress. From the laundry the smoke issued +into every portion of the building. There was no nook or corner that +the flames did not penetrate. The interior of the building burned with +great rapidity until the fire had eaten out the eastern and southern +rooms, when the walls began to give indications of falling. The upper +portion of them waved back and forth in response to a strong wind, +which filled the night air with cinders. At last different portions of +the walls fell, thus giving the flames an opportunity to sweep from +the lower portions of the building. Great gusts, which seemed to +almost lift the upper floors, swept through the broken walls. High up +over the building the flames climbed, carrying with them sparks and +cinders, and in come instances large pieces of timber. All that saved +the lower part of the city from fiery destruction was the fact that a +solid bed of snow a foot deep lay upon the roofs of all the buildings. +During all this time there was comparative quiet, notwithstanding the +fact that the fire gradually extended across Jackson street and also +across Seventh street. Besides the hotel, six or eight other buildings +were also on fire, four of which were destroyed. Women and men were to +be seen hurrying out of the burning buildings in their night +clothes, furniture was thrown into the street, costly pianos, richly +upholstered furniture, valuable pictures and a great many other +expensive articles were dropped in the snow in a helter-skelter +manner. Although nearly every room in the hotel was occupied and +rumors flew thick and fast that many of the guests were still in their +rooms, fortunately no lives were lost and no one was injured. The +coolest person in the building was a young man by the name of Pete +O'Brien, the night watchman. When he heard of the fire he comprehended +in a moment the danger of a panic among over two hundred people who +were locked in sleep, unconscious of danger. He went from room to room +and from floor to floor, telling them of the danger, but assuring them +all that they had plenty of time to escape. He apparently took command +of the excited guests and issued orders like a general on the field of +battle. To his presence of mind and coolness many of the guests were +indebted for their escape from a frightful death. The fire department +worked hard and did good service. The city had no waterworks at that +time, but relied for water entirely upon cisterns located in different +parts of the city. When the cisterns became dry it was necessary +to place the steamer at the river and pump water through over two +thousand feet of hose. + +Among the guests at the hotel at the time of the fire were Gen. C.C. +Andrews, Judge Lochren, Capt. H.A. Castle, Gen. W.G. Le Duc, Selah +Chamberlain, Gov. Armstrong and wife, Charles A. Gilman and wife, +Dr. W.W. Mayo, I.W. Webb, Dr. Charles N. Hewitt, M.H. Dunnell, Judge +Thomas Wilson and more than two hundred others. + + * * * * * + +The Park Place hotel on the corner of Summit avenue and St. Peter +street, was at one time one of of the swell hotels of the city. It +was a frame building, four stories high and nicely situated. The +proprietors of it intended it should be a family hotel, but it did not +meet with the success anticipated, and when, on the 19th of May, 1878, +it was burned to the ground it was unoccupied. The fire was thought +to be the work of incendiaries. The loss was about $20,000, partially +insured. Four firemen were quite seriously injured at this fire, but +all recovered. + + * * * * * + +The Carpenter house, on the corner of Summit avenue and Ramsey street, +was built by Warren Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter was a man of colossal +ideas, and from the picturesque location of his hotel, overlooking the +city, he could see millions of tourists flocking to his hostelry. The +panic of 1857, soon followed by the great Civil war, put a quietus on +immigration, and left him stranded high on the beach. Mr. Carpenter's +dream of millions were far from being realized, and when on the 26th +of January, 1879, the hotel was burned to the ground, it had for some +time previous passed beyond his control. + + * * * * * + +At one time there were three flourishing hotels on Bench street. +The average citizen of to-day does not know that such a street ever +existed. The Central house, on the corner of Bench and Minnesota +streets, was the first hotel of any pretension built in the city, +and it was one of the last to be burned. The first session of the +territorial legislature of Minnesota was held in the dining room of +this old hotel building, and for a number of years the hotel did a +thriving business. As the city grew it was made over into a large +boarding house, and before the war Mrs. Corbett was manager of the +place. It was afterward kept by Mrs. Ferguson, George Pulford and Ben +Ferris, the latter being in possession of it when it was destroyed by +fire. The building was burned In August, 1873. + + * * * * * + +A hotel that was very popular for some time was the Greenman house, +situated on the corner of Fifth and St. Peter streets, the site of the +Windsor hotel. It was a three-story frame structure and was built in +the early seventies. Mr. Greenman kept the hotel for some time, and +then sold it to John Summers, who was the owner of it when it was +burned. + + * * * * * + +The Merchants is the only one of the old hotels still existing, and +that only in name, as the original structure was torn down to make +room for the present building many years ago. + + * * * * * + +Aside from the hotel fires one of the most appalling calamities that +ever occurred at a fire in St. Paul took place in May, 1870, when the +old Concert Hall building on Third street, near Market, was destroyed. +Concert Hall was built by the late J.W. McClung in 1857, and the hall +in the basement was one of the largest in the city. The building was +three stories high in front and six or seven on the river side. It +was located about twenty-five feet back from the sidewalk. Under the +sidewalk all kinds of inflamable material was stored and it was from +here that the fire was first noticed. In an incredibly short time +flames reached the top of the building, thus making escape almost +impossible. On the river side of the building on the top floor two +brothers, Charles and August Mueller, had a tailor shop. The fire +spread so rapidly that the building was completely enveloped in flames +before they even thought their lives were endangered. In front of them +was a seething mass of flames and the distance to the ground on the +river side was so great that a leap from the window meant almost +certain death. They could be plainly seen frantically calling for +help. There was no possible way to reach them. Finally Charles Mueller +jumped out on the window sill and made a leap for life, and an instant +later he was followed by his brother. The bewildered spectators did +not suppose for a moment that either could live. They were too much +horrified to speak, but when it was over and they were lifted into +beds provided for them doctors were called and recovery was pronounced +possible. After months of suffering both recovered. August Mueller is +still living in the city. A lady by the name of McClellan, who had a +dressmaking establishment in the building, was burned to death and it +was several days before her body was recovered. + +The following named men have been chiefs of the St. Paul fire +department: + + Wash M. Stees, + Chas. H. Williams, + J.C.A. Pickett, + W.T. Donaldson, + J.B. Irvine, + J.E. Missen, + Luther H. Eddy, + B. Rodick, + M.B. Farrell, + J.C. Prendergast, + Bartlett Presley, + Frank Brewer, + R.O. Strong, + John T. Black, + Hart N. Cook, + John Jackson. + + + + +THE FIRST AMUSEMENT HALLS IN ST. PAUL. + +INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY AMUSEMENT HALLS OF ST. PAUL--IRVINE +HALL--DAN EMMET AND DIXIE--THE HUTCHINSONS--MAZURKA HALL, MOZART HALL, +ETC. + + +Very few of the 200,000 inhabitants of St. Paul are aware that the +three-story, three-cornered building on Third street at Seven Corners +once contained one of the most popular amusement halls in the city. It +was called Irvine hall, and at one time Melodeon hall. Dan Emmet had a +minstrel company at this hall during the years 1857 and 1858, and an +excellent company it was, too. There was Frank Lombard, the great +baritone; Max Irwin, bones, and one of the funniest men who ever sat +on the stage; Johnny Ritter, female impersonator and clog dancer, and +a large number of others. Frank Lombard afterward achieved a national +reputation as one of the best baritone singers in the country. He +was much sought after for patriotic entertainments and political +conventions. His masterpiece was the Star-Spangled Banner, and his +great baritone voice, which could be heard for blocks, always brought +enthusiastic applause. Some time during the summer of 1858 the +Hutchinson family arranged to have the hall for a one-night +entertainment. By some means or other the troupe got separated and one +of the brothers got stalled on Pig's Eye bar. When their performance +was about half over the belated brother reached the hall and rushed +frantically down the aisle, with carpetbag in hand, leaped upon the +stage, and in full view of the audience proceeded to kiss the entire +tribe. The audience was under the impression they had been separated +for years instead of only twenty-four hours. The next evening Max +Irwin was missing from his accustomed place as one of the end men, and +when the performance had been in progress for about fifteen minutes +Max came rushing down the aisle with carpetbag in hand and went +through the same performance as did the lost brother of the Hutchinson +family. The effect was electrical, and for some time Max's innovation +was the talk of the town. Dan Emmet, though a wondering minstrel, was +a very superior man and was his own worst enemy. He was a brother of +Lafayette S. Emmett, chief justice of the supreme court of the State +of Minnesota. The judge, dignified and aristocratic, did not take +kindly to the idea of his brother being a minstrel. Dan was not +particularly elated because his brother was on the supreme bench. They +were wholly indifferent as to each other's welfare. They did not even +spell their names the same way. Dan had only one "t" at the end of his +name, while the judge used two. Whether the judge used two because +he was ashamed of Dan, or whether Dan used only one because he was +ashamed of the judge, no one seemed to know. Dan Emmet left a legacy +that will be remembered by the lovers of melody for many years. What +left the judge? When Emmet's company left St. Paul they got stranded +and many of them found engagements in other organizations. Dan turned +his attention to writing negro melodies. He wrote several popular +airs, one of them being "Dixie," which afterward became the national +air of the Confederate States. When "Dixie" was written Emmet was +connected with Bryant's Minstrels in New York city, and he sent a copy +to his friend in St. Paul, the late R.C. Munger, and asked his opinion +as to its merits and whether he thought it advisable to place it +in the hands of a publisher. Mr. Munger assured his friend that he +thought it would make a great hit, and he financially assisted Mr. +Emmet in placing it before the public. One of the first copies printed +was sent to Mr. Munger, and the first time this celebrated composition +was ever sung in the West was in the music store of Munger Bros, in +the old concert hall building on Third street. "Dixie" at once became +very popular, and was soon on the program of every minstrel troupe in +the country. Dan Emmet devoted his whole life to minstrelsy and he +organized the first traveling minstrel troupe in the United States, +starting from some point in Ohio in 1843. + +The father of the Emmets was a gallant soldier of the War of 1812, and +at one time lived in the old brown frame house at the intersection of +Ramsey and West Seventh streets, recently demolished. A correspondent +of one of the magazines gives the following account of how "Dixie" +happened to become the national air of the Confederate States: + +"Early in the war a spectacular performance was being given in New +Orleans. Every part had been filled, and all that was lacking was a +march and war song for the grand chorus. A great many marches and +songs were tried, but none could be decided upon until 'Dixie' was +suggested and tried, and all were so enthusiastic over it that it +was at once adopted and given in the performance. It was taken up +immediately by the populace and was sung in the streets and in homes +and concert halls daily. It was taken to the battlefields, and there +became the great song of the South, and made many battles harder +for the Northerner, many easier for the Southerner. Though it has +particularly endeared itself to the South, the reunion of American +hearts has made it a national song. Mr. Lincoln ever regarded it as a +national property by capture." + + * * * * * + +The Hutchinson family often visited St. Paul, the enterprising town of +Hutchinson, McLeod county, being named after them. They were a very +patriotic family and generally sang their own music. How deliberate +the leader of the tribe would announce the title of the song about to +be produced. Asa Hutchinson would stand up behind the melodeon, +and with a pause between each word inform the audience that +"Sister--Abby--will--now--sing--the--beautiful--song--composed-- +by--Lucy--Larcum--entitled--'Hannah--Is--at--the--Window--Binding-- +Shoes.'" And sister Abby would sing it, too. During the early +part of the war the Hutchinson family was ordered out of the Army of +the Potomac by Gen. McClellan on account of the abolition sentiments +expressed in its songs. The general was apparently unable to interpret +the handwriting on the wall, as long before the war was ended the +entire army was enthusiastically chanting that beautiful melody to the +king of abolitionists-- + + "John Brown's body lies moldering in the grave + And his soul is marching on." + +Gen. McClellan was at one time the idol of the army, as well as of the +entire American people. Before the war he was chief engineer of the +Illinois Central railroad and made frequent trips to St. Paul to see +the future Mrs. McClellan, a Miss Marcy, daughter of Maj. R.B. Marcy +of the regular army, who lived in the old Henry M. Rice homestead on +Summit avenue. When Gen. McClellan was in command of the Army of the +Potomac Maj. Marcy was his chief of staff. + +One of the original Hutchinsons is still living, as indicated by the +following dispatch, published since the above was written: + +"Chicago, Ill., Jan. 4, 1902.--John W. Hutchinson, the last survivor +of the famous old concert-giving Hutchinson family, which +was especially prominent in anti-bellum times, received many +congratulations to-day on the occasion of his eighty-first birthday, +Mr. Hutchinson enjoys good health and is about to start on a new +singing and speaking crusade through the South, this time against the +sale and us of cigarettes. Mr. Hutchinson made a few remarks to the +friends who had called upon him, in the course of which he said: 'I +never spent a more enjoyable birthday than this, except upon the +occasion of my seventy-fifth, which I spent in New York and was +tendered a reception by the American Temperance union, of which I was +the organizer. Of course you will want me to sing to you, and I +think I will sing my favorite song, which I wrote myself. It is "The +Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man." I have written a great +many songs, among them "The Blue and the Gray," "Good old Days of +Yore," and some others that I cannot remember now. I sang the "Blue +and the Gray" in Atlanta six years ago, at the time of the exposition +there, and McKinley was there. I had the pleasure of saying a few +words at that time about woman's suffrage. I wrote the first song +about woman's suffrage and called it "Good Times for Women." This is +the 11,667th concert which I have taken part in.'" + +The venerable singer is reputed to be quite wealthy. A few years ago +one of the children thought the old man was becoming entirely too +liberal in the distribution of his wealth, and brought an action in +the New York courts requesting the appointment of a guardian to +his estate. The white-haired musician appeared in court without an +attorney, and when the case was about to be disposed of made a request +of the judge, which was granted, that he might be sworn. After Mr. +Hutchinson had made his statement to the court the judge asked a few +questions. "How is your memory?" said the judge. "Memory," replied the +old man. "I remember the flavor of the milk at the maternal fountain." +The judge concluded that Mr. Hutchinson was fully capable of managing +his own affairs. + + * * * * * + +Concert hall, built in 1857 by J.W. McClung, had room for 400 or 500 +people, but it was somewhat inaccessible on account of its being in +the basement of the building and was not very much in demand. Horatio +Seymour made a great speech to the Douglas wing of the Democracy in +the hall during the campaign of 1880, and Tom Marshall, the great +Kentucky orator, delivered a lecture on Napoleon to a large audience +In the same place. On the night of the presidential election in 1860 a +number of musicians who had been practicing on "Dixie" and other music +in Munger's music store came down to the hall and entertained the +Republicans who had gathered there for the purpose of hearing the +election returns. There was a great deal more singing than there was +election returns, as about all the news they were able to get was from +the four precincts of St. Paul, New Canada, Rose and Reserve townships +and West St. Paul. We had a telegraph line, to be sure, but Mr. +Winslow, who owned the line, would not permit the newspapers, or any +one else, to obtain the faintest hint of how the election had gone in +other localities. After singing until 11 or 12 o'clock, and abusing +Mr. Winslow in language that the linotype is wholly unable to +reproduce, the crowd dispersed. Nothing could be heard of how the +election had gone until the following afternoon, when Gov. Ramsey +received a dispatch from New York announcing that that state had +given Mr. Lincoln 50,000 majority. As that was the pivotal state the +Republicans immediately held a jollification meeting. + + * * * * * + +Tom Marshall was one of the most eloquent orators America ever +produced. He was spending the summer in Minnesota endeavoring to +recover from the effects of an over-indulgence of Kentucky's great +staple product, but the glorious climate of Minnesota did not seem to +have the desired effect, as he seldom appeared on the street without +presenting the appearance of having discovered in the North Star State +an elixer fully as invigorating as any produced in the land where +colonels, orators and moonshiners comprise the major portion of the +population. One day as Marshall came sauntering down Third street he +met a club of Little Giants marching to a Democratic gathering. +They thought they would have a little sport at the expense of the +distinguished orator from Kentucky, and they haulted immediately in +front of him and demanded a speech. They knew that Mr. Marshall was a +pronounced Whig and supported the candidacy of Bell and Everett, but +as he was from a slave state they did not think he would say anything +reflecting on the character of their cherished leader. Mr. Marshall +stepped to the front of the sidewalk and held up his hand and said: +"Do you think Douglas will ever be president? He will not, as no man +of his peculiar physique ever entered the sacred portals of the White +House." He then proceeded to denounce Douglas and the Democratic party +in language that was very edifying to the few Republicans who chanced +to be present. The Little Giants concluded that it was not the proper +caper to select a casual passer-by for speaker, and were afterward +more particular in their choice of an orator. + + * * * * * + +One night there was a Democratic meeting in the hall and after a +number of speakers had been called upon for an address, De Witt C. +Cooley, who was a great wag, went around in the back part of the hall +and called upon the unterrified to "Holler for Cooley." The request +was complied with and Mr. Cooley's name was soon on the lips of nearly +the whole audience. When Mr. Cooley mounted the platform an Irishman +in the back part of the hall inquired in a voice loud enough to be +heard by the entire audience, "Is that Cooley?" Upon being assured +that it was, he replied in a still louder voice: "Be jabers, that's +the man that told me to holler for Cooley." The laugh was decidedly on +Cooley, and his attempted flight of oratory did not materialize. + +Cooley was at one time governor of the third house and if his message +to that body could be reproduced it would make very interesting +reading. + + * * * * * + +The Athenaeum was constructed in 1859 by the German Reading society, +and for a number of years was the only amusement hall in St. Paul with +a stage and drop curtain. In 1861 Peter and Caroline Richings spent +a part of the summer in St. Paul, and local amusement lovers were +delightfully entertained by these celebrities during their sojourn. +During the war a number of dramatic and musical performances were +given at the Athenaeum for the boys in blue. The cantata of "The +Haymakers," for the benefit of the sanitary commission made quite a +hit, and old residents will recollect Mrs. Winne, Mrs. Blakeley and +Prof. Perkins, who took the leading parts. Prof. Phil Roher and Otto +Dreher gave dramatic performances both in German and English for some +time after the close of the war. Plunkett's Dramatic company, with +Susan Denin as the star, filled the boards at this hall a short time +before the little old opera house was constructed on Wabasha street. +During the Sioux massacre a large number of maimed refugees were +brought to the city and found temporary shelter in this place. + + * * * * * + +In 1853 Market hall, on the corner of Wabasha and Seventh streets, was +built, and it was one of the principal places of amusement. The Hough +Dramatic company, with Bernard, C.W. Couldock, Sallie St. Clair and +others were among the notable performers who entertained theatergoers. +In 1860 the Wide Awakes used this place for a drill hall, and so +proficient did the members become that many of them were enabled to +take charge of squads, companies and even regiments in the great +struggle that was soon to follow. + + * * * * * + +In 1860 the Ingersoll block on Bridge Square was constructed, and as +that was near the center of the city the hall on the third floor +was liberally patronized for a number of years. Many distinguished +speakers have entertained large and enthusiastic audiences from the +platform of this popular hall. Edward Everett, Ralph Waldo Emerson and +John B. Gough are among the great orators who have electrified and +instructed the older inhabitants, and the musical notes of the Black +Swan, Mlle. Whiting and Madame Varian will ever be remembered by +those whose pleasure it was to listen to them. Mrs. Scott Siddons, an +elocutionist of great ability and a descendant of the famous English +family of actors of that name, gave several dramatic readings to her +numerous admirers. When Sumter was fired on, Capt. W.H. Acker used +this hall as a rendezvous and drill hall for Company C, First regiment +of Minnesota volunteers, and many rousing war meetings for the purpose +of devising ways and means for the furtherance of enlistments took +place in this building. + +In February, 1861, the ladies of the different Protestant churches of +St. Paul, with the aid of the Young Men's Christian association, gave +a social and supper in this building for the purpose of raising funds +for the establishment of a library. It was a sort of dedicatory +opening of the building and hall, and was attended by large +delegations from the different churches. Quite a large sum was +realized. A room was fitted up on the second story and the beginning +of what is now the St. Paul library soon opened up to the public. +About 350 books were purchased with the funds raised by the social, +and the patrons of the library were required to pay one dollar per +year for permission to read them. Dr. T.D. Simonton was the first +librarian. Subsequently this library was consolidated with the St. +Paul Mercantile Library association and the number of books more than +doubled. A regular librarian was then installed with the privilege of +reading the library's books raised to two dollars per annum. + + * * * * * + +The People's theater, an old frame building on the corner of Fourth +and St. Peter streets, was the only real theatrical building in +the city. H. Van Liew was the lessee and manager of this place of +entertainment, and he was provided with a very good stock company. +Emily Dow and her brother, Harry Gossan and Azelene Allen were among +the members. During the summer of 1858 Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Wallack came +to St. Paul and played a two weeks' engagement. They were the most +prominent actors who had yet appeared in this part of the country. + +"The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Macbeth" were on their repertoire. +Probably "Macbeth" was never played to better advantage or to more +appreciative audiences than it was during the stay of the Wallacks. +Mrs. Wallack's Lady Macbeth was a piece of acting that few of the +present generation can equal. Col. R.E.J. Miles was one of the stars +at this theater, and it was at this place that he first produced the +play of "Mazeppa," which afterward made him famous. A.M. Carver, +foreman of the job department of the St. Paul Times, often assisted in +theatrical productions. Mr. Carver was not only a first-class printer, +but he was also a very clever actor. His portrayal of the character of +Uncle Tom in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which had quite a run, and was fully +equal to any later production by full fledged members of the dramatic +profession. Mr. Carver was one of the first presidents of the +International Typographical union, and died in Cincinnati many years +ago, leaving a memory that will ever be cherished by all members of +the art preservative. + +This theater had a colored gallery, and the shaded gentry were +required to pay as much for admission to the gallery at the far end of +the building as did the nabobs in the parquet. Joe Rolette, the member +from "Pembina" county, occasionally entertained the audience at this +theater by having epileptic fits, but Joe's friends always promptly +removed him from the building and the performance would go on +undisturbed. + + * * * * * + +On the second story of an old frame building on the southeast corner +of Third and Exchange streets there was a hall that was at one time +the principal amusement hall of the city. The building was constructed +in 1850 by the Elfelt brothers and the ground floor was occupied by +them as a dry goods store. It is one of the very oldest buildings in +the city. The name of Elfelt brothers until quite recently could be +seen on the Exchange street side of the building. The hall was named +Mazurka hall, and all of the swell entertainments of the early '50s +took place in this old building. At a ball given in the hall during +one of the winter months more than forty years ago, J.Q.A. Ward, +bookkeeper for the Minnesotian, met a Miss Pratt, who was a daughter +of one of the proprietors of the same paper, and after an acquaintance +of about twenty minutes mysteriously disappeared from the hall and got +married. They intended to keep it a secret for a while, but it was +known all over the town the next day and produced great commotion. +Miss Pratt's parents would not permit her to see her husband, and they +were finally divorced without having lived together. + +For a number of years Napoleon Heitz kept a saloon and restaurant in +this building. Heitz had participated in a number of battles under +the great Napoleon, and the patrons of his place well recollect the +graphic descriptions of the battle of Waterloo which he would often +relate while the guest was partaking of a Tom and Jerry or an oyster +stew. + + * * * * * + +During the summer of 1860 Charles N. Mackubin erected two large +buildings on the site of the Metropolitan hotel. Mozart hall was on +the Third street end and Masonic hall on the Fourth street corner. At +a sanitary fair held during the winter of 1864 both of these halls +were thrown together and an entertainment on a large scale was +held for the benefit of the almost depleted fundes of the sanitary +commission. Fairs had been given for this fund in nearly all the +principal cities of the North, and it was customary to vote a sword +to the most popular volunteer officer whom the state had sent to the +front. A large amount of money had been raised in the different cities +on this plan, and the name of Col. Marshall of the Seventh regiment +and Col. Uline of the Second were selected as two officers in whom it +was thought the people would take sufficient interest to bring out a +large vote. The friends of both candidates were numerous and each side +had some one stationed at the voting booth keeping tab on the number +of votes cast and the probable number it would require at the close +to carry off the prize. Col. Uline had been a fireman and was very +popular with the young men of the city. Col. Marshall was backed by +friends in the different newspaper offices. The contest was very +spirited and resulted in Col. Uline capturing the sword, he having +received more than two thousand votes in one bundle during the last +five minutes the polls were open. This fair was very successful, +the patriotic citizens of St. Paul having enriched the funds of the +sanitary commission by several thousand dollars. + + * * * * * + +One of the first free concert halls in the city was located on Bridge +Square, and it bore the agonizing name of Agony hall. Whether it +was named for its agonizing music or the agonizing effects of its +beverages was a question that its patrons were not able to determine. + + * * * * * + +In anti-bellum times Washington's birthday was celebrated with more +pomp and glory than any holiday during the year. The Pioneer Guards, +the City Guards, the St. Paul Light Artillery, the St. Paul fire +department and numerous secret organizations would form in +procession and march to the capitol, and in the hall of the house of +representatives elaborate exercises commemorative of the birth of the +nation's first great hero would take place. Business was generally +suspended and none of the daily papers would be issued on the +following day. + +In 1857 Adalina Patti appeared in St. Paul for the first time. She was +about sixteen years old and was with the Ole Bull Concert company. +They traveled on a small steamboat and gave concerts in the river +towns. Their concert took place in the hall of the house of +representatives of the old capitol, that being the only available +place at the time. Patti's concert came near being nipped in the bud +by an incident that has never been printed. Two boys employed as +messengers at the capitol, both of whom are now prominent business +men in the city, procured a key to the house, and, in company with a +number of other kids, proceeded to representative hall, where they +were frequently in the habit of congregating for the purpose of +playing cards, smoking cigars, and committing such other depradations +as it was possible for kids to conceive. After an hour or so of +revelry the boys returned the key to its proper place and separated. +In a few minutes smoke was seen issuing from the windows of the hall +and an alarm of fire was sounded. The door leading to the house was +forced open and it was discovered that the fire had nearly burned +through the floor. The boys knew at once that it was their +carelessness that had caused the alarm, and two more frightened kids +never got together. They could see visions of policemen, prison bars, +and even Stillwater, day and night for many years. They would often +get together on a back street and in whispered tones wonder if they +had yet been suspected. For more than a quarter of a century these two +kids kept this secret in the innermost recesses of their hearts, +and it is only recently that they dared to reveal their terrible +predicament. + + * * * * * + +A few days after Maj. Anderson was compelled to lower the Stars and +Stripes on Sumter's walls a mass meeting of citizens, irrespective of +party, was called to meet at the hall of the house of representatives +for the purpose of expressing the indignation of the community at the +dastardly attempt of the Cotton States to disrupt the government. +Long before the time for the commencement of the meeting the hall was +packed and it was found necessary to adjourn to the front steps of +the building in order that all who desired might take part in the +proceedings. Hon. John S. Prince, mayor of the city, presided, +assisted by half a dozen prominent citizens as vice presidents. Hon. +John M. Gilman, an honored resident of the city, was one of the +principal speakers. Mr. Gilman had been the Democratic candidate for +congress the fall previous, and considerable interest was manifested +to hear what position he would take regarding the impending conflict. +It was very soon apparent that Mr. Gilman was in hearty sympathy with +the object of the meeting and his remarks were received with great +demonstrations of approbation. Hon. J.W. Taylor followed Mr. Gilman +and made a strong speech in favor of sustaining Mr. Lincoln. There +were a number of other addresses, after which resolutions were adopted +pledging the government the earnest support of the citizens, calling +on the young men to enroll their names on the roster of the rapidly +forming companies and declaring that they would furnish financial aid +when necessary to the dependant families of those left behind. Similar +meetings were held in different parts of the city a great many times +before the Rebellion was subdued. + + * * * * * + +The first Republican state convention after the state was admitted +into the Union was held in the hall of the house of representatives. +The state was not divided into congressional districts at that time +and Col. Aldrich and William Windom were named as the candidates for +representatives in congress. Col. Aldrich did not pretend to be much +of an orator, and in his speech of acceptance he stated that while +he was not endowed with as much oratorical ability as some of his +associates on the ticket, yet he could work as hard as any one, and +he promised that he would sweat at least a barrel in his efforts to +promote the success of the ticket. + + * * * * * + +Aromory hall, on Third street, between Cedar and Minnesota, was built +in 1859, and was used by the Pioneer Guards up to the breaking out of +the war. The annual ball of the Pioneer Guards was the swell affair of +the social whirl, and it was anticipated with as much interest by +the Four Hundred as the charity ball is to-day. The Pioneer Guards +disbanded shortly after the war broke out, and many of its members +were officers in the Union army, although two or three of them stole +away and joined the Confederate forces, one of them serving on Lee's +staff during the entire war. Col. Wilkin Col. King, Col. Farrell, +Capt. Coates, Capt. Van Slyke, Capt. Western, Lieut. Zernberg and +Lieut. Tuttle were early in the fray, while a number of others +followed as the war progressed. + + * * * * * + +It was not until the winter of 1866-67 that St. Paul could boast of a +genuine opera house. The old opera house fronting on Wabasha street, +on the ground that is now occupied by the Grand block, was finished +that winter and opened with a grand entertainment given by local +talent. The boxes and a number of seats in the parquet were sold at +auction, the highest bidder being a man by the name of Philbrick, who +paid $72 for a seat in the parquet. This man Philbrick was a visitor +in St. Paul, and had a retinue of seven or eight people with him. It +was whispered around that he was some kind of a royal personage, and +when he paid $72 for a seat at the opening of the opera house people +were sure that he was at least a duke. He disappeared as mysteriously +as he had appeared. It was learned afterward that this mysterious +person was Coal Oil Johnny out on a lark. The first regular company to +occupy this theater was the Macfarland Dramatic company, with Emily +Melville as the chief attraction. This little theater could seat about +1,000 people, and its seating capacity was taxed many a time long +before the Grand opera house in the rear was constructed. Wendell +Philips, Henry Ward Beecher, Theodore Tilton, Frederick Douglass and +many others have addressed large audiences from the stage of this old +opera house. An amusing incident occurred while Frederick Douglass was +in St. Paul. Nearly every seat in the house had been sold long before +the lecture was to commence, and when Mr. Douglass commenced speaking +there was standing room only. A couple of enthusiastic Republicans +found standing room in one of the small upper boxes, and directly in +front of them was a well-known Democratic politician by the name of +W.H. Shelley. Mr. Shelley had at one time been quite prominent in +local Republican circles, but when Andrew Johnson made his famous +swing around the circle Shelley got an idea that the proper thing to +do was to swing around with him. Consequently the Republicans who +stood up behind Mr. Shelley thought they would have a little amusement +at his expense. Every time Mr. Douglass made a point worthy +of applause these ungenerous Republicans would make a great +demonstration, and as the audience could not see them and could +only see the huge outline of Mr. Shelley they concluded that he was +thoroughly enjoying the lecture and had probably come back to the +Republican fold. Mr. Shelley stood it until the lecture was about +half over, when he left the opera house in disgust. Mr. Shelley was a +candidate for the position of collector of customs of the port of St. +Paul and his name had been sent to the senate by President Johnson, +but as that body was largely Republican his nomination lacked +confirmation. + + * * * * * + +About the time of the great Heenan and Sayers prize fight in England +a number of local sports arranged to have a mock engagement at the +Athenaeum. There was no kneitoscopic method of reproducing a fight at +that time, but it was planned to imitate the great fight as closely as +possible. James J. Hill was to imitate Sayers and Theodore Borup the +Benecia boy. They were provided with seconds, surgeons and all +the attendants necessary for properly staging the melee. It was +prearranged that Theodore, in the sixth or seventh round, was to knock +Hill out, but as the battle progressed, Theodore made a false pass and +Hill could not desist from taking advantage of it, and the prearranged +plan was reversed by Hill knocking Theodore out. And Hill has kept +right on taking advantage of the false movements of his adversaries, +and is now knocking them out with more adroitness than he did forty +years ago. + + + + +PRINTERS AND EDITORS OF TERRITORIAL DAYS. + +CAPT.E.Y. SHELLEY THE PIONEER PRINTER OF MINNESOTA--A LARGE NUMBER OF +PRINTERS IN THE CIVIL WAR--FEW OF. THE OLD TIMERS LEFT. + + +TERRITORIAL PRINTERS. + + * * * * * + + E.Y. Shelly, + George W. Moore, + John C. Devereux, + Martin Williams, + H.O. Bassford, + Geo. W. Benedict, + Louis E. Fisher, + Geo. W. Armstrong, + J.J. Noah, + M.J. Clum, + Samuel J. Albright, + David Brock, + D.S. Merret, + Richard Bradley, + A.C. Crowell, + Sol Teverbaugh, + Edwin Clark, + Harry Bingham, + William Wilford, + Ole Kelson, + C.R. Conway, + Isaac H. Conway, + David Ramaley, + M.R. Prendergast, + Edward Richards, + Francis P. McNamee, + E.S. Lightbourn, + William Creek, + Alex Creek, + Marshall Robinson, + Jacob T. McCoy, + A.J. Underwood, + J.B. Chaney, + James M. Culver, + Frank H. Pratt, + A.S. Diamond, + Frank Daggett, + R.V. Hesselgrave, + A.D. Martin, + W.G. Jebb, + R.F. Slaughter, + Thos. Slaughter, + William A. Hill, + H.P. Coates, + A.J. Sterrett, + Richard McLagan, + Ed. McLagan, + Robert Bryan, + Jas. Wright, + O.G. Miller, + J.B.H. Mitchell, + Chas. R. Stuart, + Wm. F. Russell, + D.L. Paine, + Benj. Drake, + J.C. Terry, + Thomas Jebb, + Francis P. Troxill, + J.Q.A. Ward, + A.J. Morgan, + M.V.B. Young, + H.L. Vance, + A.M. Carver, + W.H. Wheeler, + J.M. Dugan, + Luke Mulrean, + H.H. Young, + W.G. Allen, + Barrett Smith, + Thos. C. Schenck. + +Of the above long list of territorial printers the following are the +only known survivors: H.O. Bassford, George W. Benedict, David Brock, +John C. Devereux, Barrett Smith, J.B.H. Mitchell, David Ramaley, M.R. +Prendergast, Jacob T. McCoy, A.S. Diamond, R.V. Hesselgrave, H.P. +Coates, J.R. Chaney, M.J. Clum. + + +CAPT. E.Y. SHELLY. + +Much has been written of the trials and tribulations of the pioneer +editors of Minnesota and what they have accomplished in bringing to +the attention of the outside world the numerous advantages possessed +by this state as a place of permanent location for all classes of +people, but seldom, if ever, has the nomadic printer, "the man behind +the gun," received even partial recognition from the chroniclers of +our early history. In the spring of 1849 James M. Goodhue arrived in +St. Paul from Lancaster, Wis., with a Washington hand press and a few +fonts of type, and he prepared to start a paper at the capital of the +new territory of Minnesota. Accompanying him were two young printers, +named Ditmarth and Dempsey, they being the first printers to set foot +on the site of what was soon destined to be the metropolis of the +great Northwest. These two young men quickly tired of their isolation +and returned to their former home. They were soon followed by another +young man, who had only recently returned from the sunny plains +of far-off Mexico, where he had been heroically battling for his +country's honor. Capt. E.Y. Shelly was born in Bucks county, Pa., +on the 25th of September, 1827. When a mere lad he removed to +Philadelphia, where he was instructed in the art preservative, and, on +the breaking out of the Mexican war, he laid aside the stick and rule +and placed his name on the roster of a company that was forming to +take part in the campaign against the Mexicans. He was assigned to +the Third United States dragoons and started at once for the scene of +hostilities. On arriving at New Orleans the Third dragoons was ordered +to report to Gen. Taylor, who was then in the vicinity of Matamoras. +As soon as Gen. Taylor was in readiness he drove the Mexicans across +the Rio Grande, and the battles of Palo Alto, Monterey and Buena Vista +followed in quick succession, in all of which the American forces +were successful against an overwhelming force of Mexicans, the Third +dragoons being in all the engagements, and they received special +mention for their conspicuous gallantry in defending their position +against the terrible onslaught of the Mexican forces under the +leadership of Santa Ana. Soon after the battle of Buena Vista, Santa +Ana withdrew from Gen. Taylor's front and retreated toward the City +of Mexico, in order to assist in the defense of that city against the +American forces under the command of Gen. Scott. Peace was declared in +1848 and the Third dragoons were ordered to Jefferson barracks, St. +Louis, where they were mustered out of the service. Capt. Shelly took +passage in a steamer for St. Paul, where he arrived in July, 1849, +being the first printer to permanently locate in Minnesota. The +Pioneer was the first paper printed in St. Paul, but the Register and +Chronicle soon followed. Capt. Shelly's first engagement was in the +office of the Register, but he soon changed to the Pioneer, and was +employed by Mr. Goodhue at the time of his tragic death. When Col. +Robertson Started the Daily Democrat Capt. Shelly was connected +with that office, and remained there until the Pioneer and Democrat +consolidated. Capt. Shelly was a member of the old Pioneer guards, and +when President Lincoln called for men to suppress the rebellion the +old patriotism was aroused in him, and he organized, in company with +Major Brackett, a company for what was afterward known as Brackett's +battalion. + +Brackett's battalion consisted of three Minnesota companies, and they +were mustered into service in September, 1861. They were ordered to +report at Benton barracks, Mo., and were assigned to a regiment known +as Curtis horse, but afterward changed to Fifth Iowa cavalry. In +February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Fort Henry, Tenn., and +arrived just in time to take an important part in the attack and +surrender of Fort Donelson. Brackett's battalion was the only +Minnesota force engaged at Fort Donelson, and, although they were +not in the thickest of the fight, yet they performed tremendous and +exhaustive service in preventing the rebel Gen. Buckner from receiving +reinforcements. After the surrender the regiment was kept on continual +scout duty, as the country was overrun with bands of guerrillas and +the inhabitants nearly all sympathized with them. From Fort Donelson +three companies of the regiment went to Savannah, (one of them being +Capt. Shelly's) where preparations were being made to meet Gen. +Beauregard, who was only a short distance away. Brackett's company was +sent out in the direction of Louisville with orders to see that the +roads and bridges were not molested, so that the forces under Gen. +Buell would not be obstructed on the march to reinforce Gen. Grant. +This timely precaution enabled Gen. Buell to arrive at Pittsburg +Landing just in time to save Gen. Grant from probable defeat. For +three months after this battle Capt. Shelly's company was engaged in +protecting the long line of railroad from Columbus, Ky., to Corinth, +Miss. On the 25th of August, 1862, Fort Donalson was attacked by the +rebels and this regiment was ordered to its relief. This attack of the +rebels did not prove to be very serious, but on the 5th of February, +1863, the rebels under Forrest and Wheeler made a third attack on Fort +Donelson. They were forced to retire, leaving a large number of their +dead on the field, but fortunately none of the men under Capt. Shelly +were injured. Nearly the entire spring and summer of 1863 was spent in +scouring the country in the vicinity of the Tennessee river, sometimes +on guard duty, sometimes on the picket line and often in battle. They +were frequently days and nights without food or sleep, but ever kept +themselves in readiness for an attack from the wily foes. Opposed to +them were the commands of Forest and Wheeler, the very best cavalry +officers in the Confederate service. A number of severe actions ended +in the battle of Chickamauga, in which the First cavalry took a +prominent part. After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was kept +on duty on the dividing line between the two forces. About the 1st +of January, 1864, most of Capt. Shelly's company reinlisted and they +returned home on a thirty days' furlough. After receiving a number +of recruits at Fort Snelling, the command, on the 14th of May, 1864, +received orders to report to Gen. Sully at Sioux City, who was +preparing to make a final campaign against the rebellious Sioux. On +the 28th of June the expedition started on its long and weary march +over the plains of the Dakotas toward Montana. It encountered the +Indians a number of times, routing them, and continued on its way. +About the middle of August the expedition entered the Bad Lands, and +the members were the first white men to traverse that unexplored +region. In the fall the battalion returned to Fort Ridgley, where +they went into winter quarters, having marched over 3,000 miles since +leaving Fort Snelling. Capt. Shelly was mustered out of the service in +the spring of 1865, and since that time, until within a few years, has +been engaged at his old profession. + +Capt. Shelly was almost painfully modest, seldom alluding to the many +stirring events with which he had been an active participant, and it +could well be said of him, as Cardinal Wolsey said of himself, that +"had he served his God with half the zeal he has served his country, +he would not in his old age have forsaken him." Political preferment +and self-assurance keep some men constantly before the public eye, +while others, the men of real merit, who have spent the best part of +their lives in the service of their country, are often permitted by an +ungrateful community to go down to their graves unhonored and unsung. + + * * * * * + +OTHER PRINTERS IN THE CIVIL WAR. + +Capt. Henry C. Coates was foreman of the job department of the Pioneer +office. He was an officer in the Pioneer Guards, and when the war +broke out was made a lieutenant in the First regiment, was in all the +battles of that famous organization up to and including Gettysburg; +was commander of the regiment for some time after the battle. After +the war he settled in Philadelphia, where he now resides. + +Jacob J. Noah at one time set type, with Robert Bonner. He was elected +clerk of the supreme court at the first election of state officers; +was captain of Company K Second Minnesota regiment, but resigned early +in the war and moved to New York City, his former home. + +Frank H. Pratt was an officer in the Seventh regiment and served +through the war. He published a paper at Taylor's Falls at one time. +After the war he was engaged in the mercantile business in St. Paul. + +John C. Devereux was foreman of the old Pioneer and was an officer in +the Third regiment, and still resides in the city. + +Jacob T. McCoy was an old-time typo and worked in all the St. Paul +offices before and after the rebellion. Mr. McCoy was a fine singer +and his voice was always heard at typographical gatherings. He +enlisted as private in the Second Minnesota and served more than four +years, returning as first lieutenant. He now resides in Meadeville, +Pa. + +Martin Williams was printer, editor, reporter and publisher, both +before and after the war. He was quartermaster of the Second Minnesota +cavalry. + +Robert P. Slaughter and his brother, Thomas Slaughter, were both +officers in the volunteer service and just previous to the rebellion +were engaged in the real estate business. + +Edward Richards was foreman of the Pioneer and Minnesotian before the +war and foreman of the old St. Paul Press after the war. He enlisted +during the darkest days of the rebellion in the Eighth regiment and +served in the dual capacity of correspondent and soldier. No better +soldier ever left the state. He was collector of customs of the port +of St. Paul under the administration of Presidents Garfield and +Arthur, and later was on the editorial staff of the Pioneer Press. + +The most remarkable compositor ever in the Northwest, if not in the +United States, was the late Charles R. Stuart. He claimed to be a +lineal descendant of the royal house of Stuart. For two years in +succession he won the silver cup in New York city for setting more +type than any of his competitors. At an endurance test in New York he +is reported to have set and distributed 26,000 ems solid brevier in +twenty-four hours. He was originally from Detroit. In the spring of +1858 he wandered into the Minnesotian office and applied for work. The +Minnesotian was city printer and was very much in need of some one +that day to help them out. Mr. Stuart was put to work and soon +distributed two cases of type, and the other comps wondered what he +was going to do with it. After he had been at work a short time +they discovered that he would be able to set up all the type he had +distributed and probably more, too. When he pasted up the next morning +the foreman measured his string and remeasured it, and then went over +and took a survey of Mr. Stuart, and then went back and measured it +again. He then called up the comps, and they looked it over, but no +one could discover anything wrong with it. The string measured 23,000 +ems, and was the most remarkable feat of composition ever heard of in +this section of the country. It was no uncommon occurrence for Mr. +Stuart to set 2,000 ems of solid bourgeois an hour, and keep it up for +the entire day. Mr. Stuart's reputation as a rapid compositor spread +all over the city in a short time and people used to come to the +office to see him set type, with as much curiosity as they do now to +see the typesetting machine. In 1862 Mr. Stuart enlisted in the Eighth +regiment and served for three years, returning home a lieutenant. For +a number of years he published a paper at Sault Ste Marie, in which +place he died about five years ago. He was not only a good printer, +but a very forceful writer, in fact he was an expert in everything +connected with the printing business. + +E.S. Lightbourn was one of the old-time printers. He served three +years in the Seventh Minnesota and after the war was foreman of the +Pioneer. + +M.J. Clum is one of the oldest printers in St. Paul. He was born in +Rensselar county, New York, in 1832, and came to St. Paul in 1853. +He learned his trade in Troy, and worked with John M. Francis, late +minister to Greece, and also with C.L. McArthur, editor of the +Northern Budget. Mr. Clum was a member of Company D, Second Minnesota, +and took part in several battles in the early part of the rebellion. + +J.B. Chancy came to Minnesota before the state was admitted to the +Union. At one time he was foreman of a daily paper at St. Anthony +Falls. During the war he was a member of Berdan's sharpshooters, who +were attached to the First regiment. + +S J. Albright worked on the Pioneer in territorial days. In 1859 he +went to Yankton, Dak., and started the first paper in that territory. +He was an officer in a Michigan regiment during the rebellion. For +many years was a publisher of a paper in Michigan, and under the last +administration of Grover Cleveland was governor of Alaska. + +M.R. Prendergast, though not connected with the printing business +for some time, yet he is an old time printer, and was in the Tenth +Minnesota during the rebellion. + +A.J. Underwood was a member of Berdan's Sharp-shooters, and was +connected with a paper at Fergus Falls for a number of years. + +Robert V. Hesselgrave was employed in nearly all the St. Paul offices +at various times. He was lieutenant in the First Minnesota Heavy +Artillery, and is now engaged in farming in the Minnesota valley. + +William A. Hill came to St. Paul during the early '50s. He was a +member of the Seventh Minnesota. + +Ole Johnson was a member of the First Minnesota regiment, and died in +a hospital in Virginia. + +William F. Russel, a compositor on the Pioneer, organized a company of +sharpshooters in St. Paul, and they served throughout the war in the +army of the Potomac. + +S. Teverbaugh and H.I. Vance were territorial printers, and were both +in the army, but served in regiments outside the state. + +There were a large number of other printers in the military service +during the civil war, but they were not territorial printers and their +names are not included in the above list. + +TERRITORIAL PRINTERS IN CIVIL LIFE. + +One of the brightest of the many bright young men who came to +Minnesota at an early day was Mr. James Mills. For a time he worked on +the case at the old Pioneer office, but was soon transferred to the +editorial department, where he remained for a number of years. After +the war he returned to Pittsburgh, his former home, and is now and for +a number of years has been editor-in-chief of the Pittsburgh Post. + +Among the numerous printers of St. Paul who were musically inclined +no one was better known than the late O.G. Miller. He belonged to the +Great Western band, and was tenor singer in several churches in the +city for a number of years. Mr. Miller was a 33d Degree Mason, and +when he died a midnight funeral service was held for him in Masonic +hall, the first instance on record of a similar service in the city. + +George W. Moore came to St. Paul in 1850, and for a short time was +foreman for Mr. Goodhue. In 1852 he formed a partnership with John P. +Owens in the publication of the Minnesotian. He sold his interest +in that paper to Dr. Foster in 1860, and in 1861 was appointed by +President Lincoln collector of the port of St. Paul, a position he +held for more than twenty years. + +Louis E. Fisher was one of God's noblemen. When he first came to St. +Paul he was foreman of the Commercial Advertiser. For a long time he +was one of the editors of the Pioneer, and also the Pioneer Press. He +was a staunch democrat and a firm believer in Jeffersonian simplicity. +At one time he was a candidate for governor on the democratic ticket. +Had it not been for a little political chicanery he would have been +nominated, and had he been elected would have made a model governor. + +George W. Armstrong was the Beau Brummel of the early printers. He +wore kid gloves when he made up the forms of the old Pioneer, and he +always appeared as if he devoted more attention to his toilet than +most of his co-laborers. He was elected state treasurer on the +democratic ticket in 1857, and at the expiration of his term of office +devoted his attention to the real estate business. + +Another old printer that was somewhat fastidious was James M. +Culver. He was the first delegate from St. Paul to the International +Typographical Union. Old members of the Sons of Malta will recollect +how strenuously he resisted the canine portion of the ceremony when +taking the third degree of that noble order. + +Who has not heard of David Ramaley? He is one of the best as well as +one of the best known printers in the Northwest. He has been printer, +reporter, editor, publisher and type founder. Although he has been +constantly in the harness for nearly fifty years, he is still active +and energetic and looks as if it might be an easy matter to round out +the century mark. + +H.O. Bassford, now of the Austin Register, was one of the fleetest and +cleanest compositers among the territorial printers. He was employed +on the Minnesotian. + +Francis P. McNamee occupied most all positions connected with the +printing business--printer, reporter, editor. He was a most estimable +man, but of very delicate constitution, and he has long since gone to +his reward. + +The genial, jovial face of George W. Benedict was for many years +familiar to most old-time residents. At one time he was foreman of the +old St. Paul Press. He is now editor and publisher of the Sauk Rapids +Sentinel. + +The old St. Paul Times had no more reliable man than the late Richard +Bradley. He was foreman of the job department of that paper, and held +the same position on the Press and Pioneer Press for many years. + +D.L. Paine was the author of the famous poem entitled "Who Stole Ben +Johnson's Spaces." He was employed in several of the St. Paul offices +previous to the rebellion. + +The late John O. Terry was the first hand pressman in St. Paul. +He formed a partnership with Col. Owens in the publication of the +Minnesotian. For a long time he was assistant postmaster of St. Paul, +and held several other positions of trust. + +J.B.H. Mitchell was a, member of the firm of Newson, Mitchell & Clum, +publishers of the Daily Times. For several years after the war he was +engaged as compositor in the St. Paul offices, and is now farming in +Northern Minnesota. + +Among the freaks connected with the printing business was a poet +printer by the name of Wentworth. He was called "Long Haired +Wentworth." + +Early in the war he enlisted in the First Minnesota regiment. When +Col. Gorman caught sight of him he ordered his hair cut. Wentworth +would not permit his flowing locks to be taken off, and he was +summarly dismissed from the service. After being ordered out of the +regiment he wrote several letters of doubtful loyalty and Secretary +Stanton had him arrested and imprisoned in Fort Lafayette with other +political prisoners. He never returned to Minnesota. + +Marshall Robinson was a partner of the late John H. Stevens in the +publication of the first paper at Glencoe. At one time he was a +compositor on the Pioneer, and the last heard from him he was state +printer for Nevada. + +Andrew Jackson Morgan was brought to St. Paul by the late Col. +D.A. Robertson and made foreman of the Democrat. He was a +printer-politician and possessed considerable ability. At one time he +was one of the editors of the Democrat. He was said to bear a striking +resemblance to the late Stephen A. Douglas, and seldom conversed with +any one without informing them of the fact. He was one of the original +Jacksonian Democrats, and always carried with him a silver dollar, +which he claimed was given him by Andrew Jackson when he was +christened. No matter how much Democratic principle Jack would consume +on one of his electioneering tours he always clung to the silver +dollar. He died in Ohio more than forty years ago, and it is said that +the immediate occasion of his demise was an overdose of hilarity. + +Another old timer entitled to a good position in the hilarity column +was J.Q.A. Ward, commonly known as Jack Ward. He was business manager +of the Minnesotian during the prosperous days of that paper. The first +immigration pamphlet ever gotten out in the territory was the product +of Jack's ingenuity. Jack created quite a sensation at one time by +marrying the daughter of his employer on half an hour's ball room +acquaintance. He was a very bright man and should have been one of the +foremost business men of the city, but, like many other men, he was +his own worst enemy. + +Another Jack that should not be overlooked was Jack Barbour. His +theory was that in case the fiery king interfered with your business +it was always better to give up the business. + +A.M. Carver was one of the best job printers in the country, and he +was also one of the best amateur actors among the fraternity. It was +no uncommon thing for the old time printers to be actors and actors to +be printers. Lawrence Barrett, Stuart Robson and many other eminent +actors were knights of the stick and rule. Frequently during the happy +distribution hour printers could be heard quoting from the dramatist +and the poet, and occasionally the affairs of church and state would +receive serious consideration, and often the subject would be handled +in a manner that would do credit to the theologian or the diplomat, +but modern ingenuity has made it probable that no more statesmen will +receive their diplomas from the composing room. Since the introduction +of the iron printer all these pleasantries have passed away, and the +sociability that once existed in the composing room will be known +hereafter only to tradition. + +The late William Jebb was one of the readiest debaters in the old +Pioneer composing room. He was well posted on all topics and was +always ready to take either side of a question for the sake of +argument. Possessing a command of language and fluency of speech that +would have been creditable to some of the foremost orators, he would +talk by the hour, and his occasional outbursts of eloquence often +surprised and always entertained the weary distributors. At one time +Jebb was reporter on the St. Paul Times. Raising blooded chickens +was one of his hobbies. One night some one entered his premises and +appropriated, a number of his pet fowls. The next day the Times had a +long account of his misfortune, and at the conclusion of his article +he hurled the pope's bull of excommunication at the miscreant. It was +a fatal bull and was Mr. Jebb's reportorial finish. + +A fresh graduate from the case at one time wrote a scurrilous +biography of Washington. The editor of the paper on which he was +employed was compelled to make editorial apology for its unfortunate +appearance. To make the matter more offensive the author on several +different occasions reproduced the article and credited its authorship +to the editor who was compelled to apologize for it. + +In two different articles on nationalities by two different young +printer reporters, one referred to the Germans as "the beer-guzzling +Dutch," and the other, speaking of the English said "thank the Lord we +have but few of them in our midst," caused the writers to be promptly +relegated back to the case. + +Bishop Willoughby was a well-known character of the early times. A +short conversation with him would readily make patent the fact that he +wasn't really a bishop. In an account of confirming a number of people +at Christ church a very conscientious printer-reporter said "Bishop +Willoughby administered the rite of confirmation," when he should have +said Bishop Whipple. He was so mortified at his unfortunate blunder +that he at once tendered his resignation. Of course it was not +accepted. + +Editors and printers of territorial times were more closely affiliated +than they are to-day. Meager hotel accommodations and necessity for +economical habits compelled many of them to work and sleep in the same +room. All the offices contained blankets and cots, and as morning +newspapers were only morning newspapers in name, the tired and weary +printer could sleep the sleep of the just without fear of disturbance. + +Nearly all the early editors were also printers. Earle S. Goodrich, +editor-in-chief of the Pioneer: Thomas Foster, editor of the +Minnesotian; T.M. Newson, editor of the Times, and John P. Owens, +first editor of the Minnesotian, were all printers. When the old Press +removed from Bridge Square in 1869 to the new building on the corner +of Third and Minnesota streets, Earle S. Goodrich came up into the +composing room and requested the privilege of setting the first type +in the new building. He was provided with a stick and rule and set +up about half a column of editorial without copy. The editor of the +Press, in commenting on his article, said it was set up as "clean as +the blotless pages of Shakespeare." In looking over the article the +next morning some of the typos discovered an error in the first line. + + + + +THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS. + +THE FIRST BATTLE DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN WHICH THE UNION FORCES SCORED +A DECISIVE VICTORY--THE SECOND MINNESOTA THE HEROES OF THE DAY--THE +REBEL GENERAL ZOLLICOFFER KILLED. + + +Every Minnesotian's heart swells with pride whenever mention is made +of the grand record of the volunteers from the North Star State in the +great struggle for the suppression of the rebellion. At the outbreak +of the war Minnesota was required to furnish one regiment, but so +intensely patriotic were its citizens that nearly two regiments +volunteered at the first call of the president. As only ten companies +could go in the first regiment the surplus was held in readiness for +a second call, which it was thought would be soon forthcoming. On the +16th of June, 1861, Gov. Ramsey received notice that a second regiment +would be acceptable, and accordingly the companies already organized +with two or three additions made up the famous Second Minnesota. H.P. +Van Cleve was appointed colonel, with headquarters at Fort Snelling. +Several of the companies were sent to the frontier to relieve +detachments of regulars stationed at various posts, but on the 16th of +October, 1861, the full regiment started for Washington. On reaching +Pittsburgh, however, their destination was changed to Louisville, at +which place they were ordered to report to Gen. W.T. Sherman, then in +command of the Department of the Cumberland, and they at once received +orders to proceed to Lebanon Junction, about thirty miles south of +Louisville. The regiment remained at this camp about six weeks before +anything occurred to relieve the monotony of camp life, although there +were numerous rumors of night attacks by large bodies of Confederates. +On the 15th of November, 1861, Gen. Buell assumed command of all the +volunteers in the vicinity of Louisville, and he at once organized +them into divisions and brigades. Early in December the Second +regiment moved to Lebanon, Ky., and, en route, the train was fired at. +At Lebanon the Second Minnesota, Eighteenth United States infantry, +Ninth and Thirty-fifth Ohio regiments were organized into a brigade, +and formed part of Gen. George H. Thomas' First division. On Jan. 1, +1862, Gen. Thomas started his troops on the Mill Springs campaign +and from the 1st to the 17th day of January, spent most of its time +marching under rain, sleet and through mud, and on the latter date +went into camp near Logan's Cross Roads, eight miles north of +Zollicoffer's intrenched rebel camp at Beech Grove. On the night of +Jan. 18, Company A was on picket duty. It had been raining incessantly +and was so dark that it was with difficulty that pickets could be +relieved. Just at daybreak the rebel advance struck the pickets of +the Union lines, and several musket shots rang out with great +distinctness, and in quick succession, it being the first rebel shot +that the boys had ever heard. Then all was quiet for a time. The +firing soon commenced again, nearer and more distinct than at first, +and thicker and faster as the rebel advance encountered the Union +pickets. The Second Minnesota had entered the woods and passing +through the Tenth Indiana, then out of ammunition and retiring and no +longer firing. The enemy, emboldened by the cessation and mistaking +its cause, assumed they had the Yanks on the run, advanced to the rail +fence separating the woods from the field just as the Second Minnesota +was doing the same, and while the rebels got there first, they were +also first to get away and make a run to their rear. But before +they ran their firing was resumed and Minnesotians got busy and the +Fifteenth Mississippi and the Sixteenth Alabama regiments were made +to feel that they had run up against something. To the right of the +Second were two of Kinney's cannon and to their right was the Ninth +Ohio. The mist and smoke which hung closely was too thick to see +through, but by lying down it was possible to look under the smoke and +to see the first rebel line, and that it was in bad shape, and back of +it and down on the low ground a second line, with their third line +on the high ground on the further side of the field. That the Second +Minnesota was in close contact with the enemy was evident all along +its line, blasts of fire and belching smoke coming across the fence +from Mississippi muskets. The contest was at times hand to hand--the +Second Minnesota and the rebels running their guns through the fence, +firing and using the bayonet when opportunity offered. The firing was +very brisk for some time when it was suddenly discovered that +the enemy had disappeared. The battle was over, the Johnnies had +"skedaddled," leaving their dead and dying on the bloody field. Many +of the enemy were killed and wounded, and some few surrendered. After +the firing had ceased one rebel lieutenant bravely stood in front +of the Second and calmly faced his fate. After being called on to +surrender he made no reply, but deliberately raised his hand and shot +Lieut. Stout through the body. He was instantly shot. His name proved +to be Bailie Peyton, son of one of the most prominent Union men in +Tennessee. Gen. Zollicoffer, commander of the Confederate forces, was +also killed in this battle. This battle, although a mere skirmish when +compared to many other engagements in which the Second participated +before the close of the war, was watched with great interest by the +people of St. Paul. Two full companies had been recruited in the city +and there was quite a number of St. Paulites in other companies of +this regiment. When it became known that a battle had been fought +in which the Second had been active participants, the relatives and +friends of the men engaged in the struggle thronged the newspaper +offices in quest of information regarding their safety. The casualties +in the Second Minnesota, amounted to twelve killed and thirty-five +wounded. Two or three days after the battle letters were received from +different members of the Second, claiming that they had shot Bailie +Payton and Zollicoffer. It afterward was learned that no one ever +knew who shot Peyton, and that Col. Fry of the Fourth Kentucky shot +Zollicoffer. Lieut. Tuttle captured Peyton's sword and still has it in +his possession. This sword has a historic record. It was presented to +Bailie Peyton by the citizens of New Orleans at the outbreak of the +Mexican war, and was carried by Col. Peyton during the entire war. +Col. Peyton was on Gen. Scott's staff at the close of the war, and +when Santa Anna surrendered the City of Mexico to Gen. Scott, Col. +Peyton was the staff officer designated by Scott to receive the +surrender of the city, carrying this sword by his side. It bears +this inscription: "Presented to Col. Bailie Peyton, Fifth Regiment +Louisiana Volunteer National Guards, by his friends of New Orleans. +His country required his services. His deeds will add glory to +her arms." There has been considerable correspondence between the +government and state, officials and the descendants of Col. Peyton +relative to returning this trophy to Col. Peyton's relatives, but so +far no arrangements to that effect have been concluded. + +It was reported by Tennesseeans at the time of the battle that young +Peyton was what was known as a "hoop-skirt" convert to the Confederate +cause. Southern ladies were decidedly more pronounced secessionists +than were the sterner sex, and whenever they discovered that one of +their chivalric brethren was a little lukewarm toward the cause of the +South they sent him a hoop skirt, which indicated that the recipient +was lacking in bravery. For telling of his loyalty to the Union he +was insulted and hissed at on the streets of Nashville, and when he +received a hoop skirt from his lady friends he reluctantly concluded +to take up arms against the country he loved so well. He paid the +penalty of foolhardy recklessness in the first battle in which he +participated. + +A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, who was an eye-witness +of the battle, gave a glowing description of the heroic conduct of the +Second Minnesota during the engagement. He said: "The success of the +battle was when the Second Minnesota and the Ninth Ohio appeared in +good order sweeping through the field. The Second Minnesota, from its +position in the column, was almost in the center of the fight, and in +the heaviest of the enemy's fire. They were the first troops that used +the bayonet, and the style with which they went into the fight is the +theme of enthusiastic comment throughout the army." + +It was the boast of Confederate leaders at the outbreak of the +rebellion that one regiment of Johnnies was equal to two or more +regiments of Yankees. After the battle of Mill Springs they had +occasion to revise their ideas regarding the fighting qualities of the +detested Yankees. From official reports of both sides, gathered after +the engagement was over, it was shown that the Confederate forces +outnumbered their Northern adversaries nearly three to one. + +The victory proved a dominant factor in breaking up the Confederate +right flank, and opened a way into East Tennessee, and by transferring +the Union troops to a point from which to menace Nashville made the +withdrawal of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's troops from Bowling Green, +Ky., to Nashville necessary. + +Confederate loss, 600 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Union loss, +248 in killed and wounded. Twelve rebel cannon and caissons complete +were captured. Two hundred wagons with horses in harness were +captured, as were large quantities of ammunition, store and camp +equipments--in fact, the Union troops took all there was. + +Col. Fry's version of the killing of Zollicoffer is as follows: While +on the border of "old fields" a stranger in citizen clothes rode up by +his side, so near that he could have put his hand upon his shoulder, +and said: "Don't let us be firing on our own men. Those are our men," +pointing at the same time toward our forces. Col. Fry looked upon him +inquiringly a moment, supposing him to be one of his own men, after +which he rode forward not more than fifteen paces, when an officer +came dashing up, first recognizing the stranger and almost the same +instant firing upon Col. Fry. At the same moment the stranger wheeled +his horse, facing Col. Fry, when the colonel shot him in the breast. + +Gen. Zollicoffer was a prominent and influential citizen of Nashville +previous to the war, and stumped the state with Col. Peyton in +opposition to the ordinance of secession, but when Tennessee seceded +he determined to follow the fortunes of his state. The day before the +battle Gen. Zollicoffer made a speech to his troops in which he said +he would take them to Indiana or go to hell himself. He didn't go to +Indiana. + +The poet of the Fourth Kentucky perpetrated the following shortly +after the battle: + + "Old Zollicoffer is dead + And the last word he said: + I see a wild cat coming. + Up steps Col. Fry. + And he hit him in the eye + And he sent him to the happy land of Canaan. + Ho! boys, ho! + For the Union go! + Hip hurrah for the happy land of freedom." + +The loyal Kentuckians were in great glee and rejoiced over the +victory. It was their battle against rebel invaders from Tennessee, +Mississippi and Alabama, who were first met by their own troops of +Wolford's First cavalry and the Fourth Kentucky infantry, whose blood +was the first to be shed in defense of the Stars and Stripes; and +their gratitude went out to their neighbors from Minnesota, Indiana +and Ohio who came to their support and drove the invaders out of their +state. On Feb. 24, 1862, the Second Minnesota was again in Louisville, +where the regiment had admirers and warm friends in the loyal ladies, +who as evidence of their high appreciation, though the mayor of the +city, Hon. J.M. Dolph, presented to the Second regiment a silk flag. +The mayor said. "Each regiment is equally entitled to like honor, but +the gallant conduct of those who came from a distant state to unite +in subduing our rebel invaders excites the warmest emotions of our +hearts." + +On Jan. 25 President Lincoln's congratulations were read to the +regiment, and on Feb. 9, at Waitsboro, Ky., the following joint +resolution of the Minnesota legislature was read before the regiment: + + +Whereas, the noble part borne by the First regiment, Minnesota +infantry, in the battles of Bull Run and Ball's Bluff, Va., is +yet fresh in our minds; and, whereas, we have heard with equal +satisfaction the intelligence of the heroism displayed by the Second +Minnesota infantry in the late brilliant action at Mill Springs, Ky.: + +Therefore be it resolved by the legislature of Minnesota, That while +it was the fortune of the veteran First regiment to shed luster upon +defeat, it was reserved for the glorious Second regiment to add +victory to glory. + +Resolved, that the bravery of our noble sons, heroes whether in defeat +or victory, is a source of pride to the state that sent them forth, +and will never fail to secure to them the honor and the homage of the +government and the people. + +Resolved, That we sympathize with the friends of our slain soldiers, +claiming as well to share their grief as to participate in the renown +which the virtues and valor of the dead have conferred on our arms. + +Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, having the signature +of the executive and the great seal of the state, be immediately +forwarded by the governor to the colonels severally in command of +the regiments, to be by them communicated to their soldiers at dress +parade. + +The battle at Mill Springs was the first important victory achieved by +the Union army in the Southwest after the outbreak of the rebellion, +and the result of that engagement occasioned great rejoicing +throughout the loyal North. Although the battle was fought forty-five +years ago, quite a number of men engaged in that historic event +are still living in St. Paul, a number of them actively engaged in +business. Among the number are J.W. Bishop, J.C. Donahower, M.C. +Tuttle, R.A. Lanpher, M.J. Clum, William Bircher, Robert G. Rhodes, +John H. Gibbons, William Wagner, Joseph Burger, Jacob J. Miller, +Christian Dehn, William Kemper, Jacob Bernard, Charles F. Myer, +Phillip Potts and Fred Dohm. + + + + +THE GREAT BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. + +A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST SANGUINARY BATTLES +OF THE CIVIL WAR--TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE--GALLANT ACTION OF THE FIRST +MINNESOTA BATTERY--DEATH OF CAPT. W.H. ACKER. + + +The battle of Pittsburg Landing on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, was +one of the most terrific of the many great battles of the great Civil +war. It has been likened to the battle of Waterloo. Napoleon sought to +destroy the army of Wellington before a junction could be made with +Blucher. Johnston and Beauregard undertook to annihilate the Army of +the Tennessee, under Gen. Grant, before the Army of the Cumberland, +under Buell, could come to his assistance. At the second battle of +Bull Run Gen. Pope claimed that Porter was within sound of his guns, +yet he remained inactive. At Pittsburg Landing it was claimed by +military men that Gen. Buell could have made a junction with Grant +twenty-four hours sooner and thereby saved a terrible loss of life had +he chosen to do so. Both generals were subsequently suspended from +their commands and charges of disloyalty were made against them by +many newspapers in the North. Gen. Porter was tried by court-martial +and dismissed from the service. Many years after this decision was +revoked by congress and the stigma of disloyalty removed from his +name. Gen. Buell was tried by court-martial, but the findings of the +court were never made public. Gen. Grant did not think Gen. Buell +was guilty of the charges against him, and when he became +commander-in-chief of the army in 1864 endeavored to have him restored +to his command, but the war department did not seem inclined to do so. +About two weeks before the battle of Pittsburg Landing Gen. Grant +was suspended from the command of the Army of the Tennessee by Gen. +Halleck, but owing to some delay in the transmission of the order, an +order came from headquarters restoring him to his command before he +knew that he had been suspended. Gen. Grant's success at Fort Henry +and Fort Donelson made his superiors jealous of his popularity. He was +ordered arrested by Gen. McClellan, but the order was held up by the +war department until Gen. Grant could be heard from. The reason for +his arrest was that he went to Nashville to consult with Buell without +permission of the commanding general. Dispatches sent to Grant for +information concerning his command was never delivered to him, but +were delivered over to the rebel authorities by a rebel telegraph +operator, who shortly afterward joined the Confederate forces. + +Many years after the war Gen. Badeau, one of Grant's staff officers, +was in search of information for his "History of Grant's Military +Campaigns," and he unearthed in the archives of the war department the +full correspondence between Halleck, McClellan and the secretary of +war, and it was not until then that Gen. Grant learned the full extent +of the absurd accusations made against him. + +After the battle of Pittsburg Landing Gen. Halleck assumed personal +command of all the forces at that point and Gen. Grant was placed +second in command, which meant that he had no command at all. This +was very distasteful to Gen. Grant and he would have resigned his +commission and returned to St. Louis but for the interposition of his +friend, Gen. W.T. Sherman. Gen. Grant had packed up his belongings +and was about to depart when Gen. Sherman met him at his tent and +persuaded him to refrain. In a short time Halleck was ordered to +Washington and Grant was made commander of the Department of West +Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis. Gen. Grant's subsequent +career proved the wisdom of Sherman's entreaty. + +When Gen. Halleck assumed command he constructed magnificent +fortifications, and they were a splendid monument to his engineering +skill, but they were never occupied. He was like the celebrated king +of France, who "with one hundred thousand men, marched up the hill and +then down again." Gen. Halleck had under his immediate command more +than one hundred thousand well equipped men, and the people of +the North looked to him to administer a crushing blow to the then +retreating enemy. The hour had arrived--the man had not. + +"Flushed with the victory of Forts Henry and Donelson," said the +envious Halleck in a dispatch to the war department, previous to +the battle, "the army under Grant at Pittsburg Landing was more +demoralized than the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous defeat +of Bull Run." + + +Soon after the battle the venerable Gen. Scott predicted that the +war would soon be ended--that thereafter there would be nothing but +guerrilla warfare at interior points. Gen. Grant himself in his +memoirs says that had the victory at Pittsburg Landing been followed +up and the army been kept intact the battles at Stone River, +Chattanooga and Chickamauga would not have been necessary. + +Probably the battle of Pittsburg Landing was the most misunderstood +and most misrepresented of any battle occurring during the war. It +was charged that Grant was drunk; that he was far away from the +battleground when the attack was made, and was wholly unprepared to +meet the terrible onslaught of the enemy in the earlier stages of the +encounter. Gen. Beauregard is said to have stated on the morning +of the battle that before sundown he would water his horses in the +Tennessee river or in hell. That the rebels did not succeed in +reaching the Tennessee was not from lack of dash and daring on their +part, but was on account of the sturdy resistance and heroism of their +adversaries. According to Gen. Grant's own account of the battle, +though suffering intense pain from a sprained ankle, he was in the +saddle from early morning till late at night, riding from division to +division, giving directions to their commanding officers regarding the +many changes in the disposition of their forces rendered necessary +by the progress of the battle. The firm resistance made by the force +under his command is sufficient refutation of the falsity of the +charges made against him. Misunderstanding of orders, want of +co-operation of subordinates as well as superiors, and rawness of +recruits were said to have been responsible for the terrible slaughter +of the Union forces on the first day of the battle. + + * * * * * + +The battle of Pittsburg Landing is sometimes called the battle of +Shiloh, some of the hardest lighting having been done in the vicinity +of an old log church called the Church of Shiloh, about three miles +from the landing. + +The battle ground traversed by the opposing forces occupied a +semi-circle of about three and a half miles from the town of +Pittsburg, the Union forces being stationed in the form of a +semi-circle, the right resting on a point north of Crump's Landing, +the center being directly in front of the road to Corinth, and the +left extending to the river in the direction of Harrisburg--a small +place north of Pittsburg Landing. At about 2 o'clock on Sunday +morning, Col. Peabody of Prentiss' division, fearing that everything +was not right, dispatched a body of 400 men beyond the camp for the +purpose of looking after any body of men which might be lurking in +that direction. This step was wisely taken, for a half a mile advance +showed a heavy force approaching, who fired upon them with great +slaughter. This force taken by surprise, was compelled to retreat, +which they did in good order under a galling fire. At 6 o'clock the +fire had become general along the entire front, the enemy having +driven in the pickets of Gen. Sherman's division and had fallen with +vengeance upon three Ohio regiments of raw recruits, who knew nothing +of the approach of the enemy until they were within their midst. The +slaughter on the first approach of the enemy was very severe, scores +falling at every discharge of rebel guns. It soon became apparent that +the rebel forces were approaching in overwhelming numbers and there +was nothing left for them to do but retreat, which was done with +considerable disorder, both officers and men losing every particle of +their baggage, which fell into rebel hands. + + +At 8:30 o'clock the fight had become general, the second line of +divisions having received the advance in good order and made every +preparation for a suitable reception of the foe. At this time many +thousand stragglers, many of whom had never before heard the sound +of musketry, turned their backs to the enemy, and neither threats or +persuasion could induce them to turn back. The timely arrival of Gen. +Grant, who had hastened up from Savannah, led to the adoption of +measures that put a stop to this uncalled-for flight from the battle +ground. A strong guard was placed across the thoroughfare, with orders +to hault every soldier whose face was turned toward the river, and +thus a general stampede was prevented. At 10 o'clock the entire line +on both sides was engaged in one of the most terrible battles ever +known in this country. The roar of the cannon and musketry was without +intermission from the main center to a point extending halfway down +the left wing. The great struggle was most upon the forces which had +fallen back on Sherman's position. By 11 o'clock quite a number of the +commanders of regiments had fallen, and in some instances not a single +field officer remained; yet the fighting continued with an earnestness +that plainly showed that the contest on both sides was for death or +victory. The almost deafening sound of artillery and the rattle of +musketry was all that could be heard as the men stood silently and +delivered their fire, evidently bent on the work of destruction which +knew no bounds. Foot by foot the ground was contested, a single narrow +strip of open land dividing the opponents. Many who were maimed fell +back without help, while others still fought in the ranks until they +were actually forced back by their company officers. Finding it +impossible to drive back the center of our column, at 12 o'clock the +enemy slackened fire upon it and made a most vigorous effort on our +left wing, endeavoring to drive it to the river bank at a point about +a mile and a half above Pittsburg Landing. With the demonstration of +the enemy upon the left wing it was soon seen that all their fury was +being poured out upon it, with a determination that it should give +way. For about two hours a sheet of fire blazed both columns, the +rattle of musketry making a most deafening noise. For about an hour it +was feared that the enemy would succeed in driving our forces to the +river bank, the rebels at times being plainly seen by those on the +main landing below. While the conflict raged the hottest in this +quarter the gunboat Tyler passed slowly up the river to a point +directly opposite the enemy and poured in a broadside from her immense +guns. The shells went tearing and crashing through the woods, felling +trees in their course and spreading havoc wherever they fell. The +explosions were fearful, the shells falling far inland, and they +struck terror to the rebel force. Foiled in this attempt, they now +made another attack on the center and fought like tigers. They found +our lines well prepared and in full expectation of their coming. Every +man was at his post and all willing to bring the contest to a definite +conclusion. In hourly expectation of the arrival of reinforcements, +under Generals Nelson and Thomas of Buell's army, they made every +effort to rout our forces before the reinforcements could reach the +battle ground. They were, however, fighting against a wall of steel. +Volley answered volley and for a time the battle of the morning was +re-enacted on the same ground and with the same vigor on both sides. +At 5 o'clock there was a short cessation in the firing of the enemy, +their lines falling back on the center for about half a mile. They +again wheeled and suddenly threw their entire force upon the left +wing, determined to make the final struggle of the day in that +quarter. The gunboat Lexington in the meantime had arrived from +Savannah, and after sending a message to Gen. Grant to ascertain in +which direction the enemy was from the river, the Lexington and Tyler +took a position about half a mile above the river landing, and poured +their shells up a deep ravine reaching to the river on the right. +Their shots were thick and fast and told with telling effect. In the +meantime Gen. Lew Wallace, who had taken a circuitous route from +Crump's Landing, appeared suddenly on the left wing of the rebels. In +face of this combination the enemy felt that their bold effort was for +the day a failure and as night was about at hand, they slowly fell +back, fighting as they went, until they reached an advantageous +position, somewhat in the rear, yet occupying the main road to +Corinth. The gunboats continued to send their shells after them until +they were far beyond reach. This ended the engagement for the day. +Throughout the day the rebels evidently had fought with the Napoleonic +idea of massing their entire force on weak points of the enemy, with +the intention of braking through their lines, creating a panic and +cutting off retreat. + + +The first day's battle, though resulting in a terrible loss of Union +troops, was in reality a severe disappointment to the rebel leaders. +They fully expected, with their overwhelming force to annihilate +Grant's army, cross the Tennessee river and administer the same +punishment to Buell, and then march on through Tennessee, Kentucky and +into Ohio. They had conceived a very bold movement, but utterly failed +to execute it. + +Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of the Confederate forces, +was killed in the first day's battle, being shot while attempting to +induce a brigade of unwilling Confederates to make a charge on the +enemy. + +Gen. Buell was at Columbia, Tenn., on the 19th of March with a veteran +force of 40,000 men, and it required nineteen days for him to reach +the Tennessee river, eighty-five miles distant, marching less than +five miles a day, notwithstanding the fact that he had been ordered to +make a junction with Grant's forces as soon as possible, and was well +informed of the urgency of the situation. + +During the night steamers were engaged in carrying the troops of +Nelson's division across the river. As soon as the boats reached the +shore the troops immediately left, and, without music, took their way +to the advance of the left wing of the Union forces. They had come up +double quick from Savannah, and as they were regarded as veterans, the +greatest confidence was soon manifest as to the successful termination +of the battle. With the first hours of daylight it was evident that +the enemy had also been strongly reinforced, for, notwithstanding they +must have known of the arrival of new Union troops, they were first to +open the ball, which they did with considerable alacrity. The attacks +that began came from the main Corinth road, a point to which they +seemed strongly attached, and which at no time did they leave +unprotected. Within half an hour from the first firing in the morning +the contest then again spread in either direction, and both the main +and left wings were not so anxious to fight their way to the river +bank as on the previous day, having a slight experience of what they +might expect if again brought under the powerful guns of the Tyler and +Lexington. They were not, however, lacking in activity, and they +were met by our reinforced troops with an energy that they did not +anticipate. At 9 o'clock the sound of the artillery and musketry fully +equaled that of the day before. It now became evident that the rebels +were avoiding our extreme left wing, and were endeavoring to find a +weak point in our line by which they could turn our force and thus +create a panic. They left one point but to return to it immediately, +and then as suddenly would direct an assault upon a division where +they imagined they would not be expected. The fire of the united +forces was as steady as clockwork, and it soon became evident that +the enemy considered the task they had undertaken a hopeless one. +Notwithstanding continued repulses, the rebels up to 11 o'clock had +given no evidence of retiring from the field. Their firing had been as +rapid and vigorous at times as during the most terrible hours of +the previous day. Generals Grant, Buell, Nelson and Crittenden were +present everywhere directing the movements on our part for a new +strike against the foe. Gen. Lew Wallace's division on the right had +been strongly reinforced, and suddenly both wings of our army were +turned upon the enemy, with the intention of driving the immense body +into an extensive ravine. At the same time a powerful battery had been +stationed upon an open field, and they poured volley after volley into +the rebel ranks and with the most telling effect. At 11:30 o'clock the +roar of battle almost shook the earth, as the Union guns were being +fired with all the energy that the prospect of ultimate victory +inspired. The fire from the enemy was not so vigorous and they began +to evince a desire to withdraw. They fought as they slowly moved back, +keeping up their fire from their artillery and musketry, apparently +disclaiming any notion that they thought of retreating. As they +retreated they went in excellent order, halting at every advantageous +point and delivering their fire with considerable effect. At noon it +was settled beyond dispute that the rebels were retreating. They were +making but little fire, and were heading their center column for +Corinth. From all divisions of our lines they were closely pursued, +a galling fire being kept up on their rear, which they returned at +intervals with little or no effect. From Sunday morning until Monday +noon not less than three thousand cavalry had remained seated In their +saddles on the hilltop overlooking the river, patiently awaiting the +time when an order should come for them to pursue the flying enemy. +That time had now arrived and a courier from Gen. Grant had scarcely +delivered his message before the entire body was in motion. The wild +tumult of the excited riders presented a picture seldom witnessed on a +battlefield. Gen. Grant himself led the charge. + + * * * * * + +Gen. Grant, in his memoirs, summarizes the results of the two days' +fighting as follows: "I rode forward several miles the day of the +battle and found that the enemy had dropped nearly all of their +provisions and other luggage in order to enable them to get off with +their guns. An immediate pursuit would have resulted in the capture +of a considerable number of prisoners and probably some guns...." The +effective strength of the Union forces on the morning of the 6th was +33,000 men. Lew Wallace brought 5,000 more after nightfall. Beauregard +reported the rebel strength at 40,955. Excluding the troops who fled, +there was not with us at any time during the day more than 25,000 men +in line. Our loss in the two days' fighting was 1,754 killed, 8,408 +wounded and 2,885 missing. Beauregard reported a total loss of 10,699, +of whom 1,728 were killed, 8,012 wounded and 957 missing. + + +On the first day of the battle Gen. Prentiss, during a change of +position of the Union forces, became detached from the rest of the +troops, and was taken prisoner, together with 2,200 of his men. Gen. +W.H.L. Wallace, division commander, was killed in the early part of +the struggle. + +The hardest fighting during the first day was done in front of the +divisions of Sherman and McClernand. "A casualty to Sherman," says +Gen. Grant, "that would have taken him from the field that day would +have been a sad one for the Union troops engaged at Shiloh. And how +near we came to this! On the 6th Sherman was shot twice, once in the +hand, once in the shoulder, the ball cutting his coat and making a +slight wound, and a third ball passed through his hat. In addition to +this he had several horses shot during the day." + +During the second day of the battle Gen. Grant, Col. McPherson and +Maj. Hawkins got beyond the left of our troops. There did not appear +to be an enemy in sight, but suddenly a battery opened on them from +the edge of the woods. They made a hasty retreat and when they were +at a safe distance halted to take an account of the damage. In a few +moments Col. McPherson's horse dropped dead, having been shot just +back of the saddle. A ball had passed through Maj. Hawkins' hat and a +ball had struck the metal of Gen. Grant's sword, breaking it nearly +off. + +On the first day of the battle about 6,000 fresh recruits who had +never before heard the sound of musketry, fled on the approach of the +enemy. They hid themselves on the river bank behind the bluff, and +neither command nor persuasion could induce them to move. When Gen. +Buell discovered them on his arrival he threatened to fire on them, +but it had no effect. Gen. Grant says that afterward those same men +proved to be some of the best soldiers in the service. + +Gen. Grant, in his report, says he was prepared with the +reinforcements of Gen. Lew Wallace's division of 5,000 men to assume +the offensive on the second day of the battle, and thought he could +have driven the rebels back to their fortified position at Corinth +without the aid of Buell's army. + + * * * * * + +At banquet hall, regimental reunion or campfire, whenever mention is +made of the glorious record of Minnesota volunteers in the great Civil +war, seldom, if ever, is the First Minnesota battery given credit +for its share in the long struggle. Probably very few of the present +residents of Minnesota are aware that such an organization existed. +This battery was one of the finest organizations that left the state +during the great crisis. It was in the terrible battle of Pittsburg +Landing, the siege of Vicksburg, in front of Atlanta and in the great +march from Atlanta to the sea, and in every position in which they +were placed they not only covered themselves with glory, but they were +an honor and credit to the state that sent them. The First Minnesota +battery, light artillery, was organized at Fort Snelling in the fall +of 1861, and Emil Munch was made its first captain. Shortly after +being mustered in they were ordered to St. Louis, where they received +their accoutrements, and from there they were ordered to Pittsburg +Landing, arriving at the latter place late in February, 1862. The day +before the battle, they were transferred to Prentiss' division of +Grant's army. On Sunday morning, April 6, the battery was brought out +bright and early, preparing for inspection. About 7 o'clock great +commotion was heard at headquarters, and the battery was ordered to be +ready to march at a moment's notice. In about ten minutes they were +ordered to the front, the rebels having opened fire on the Union +forces. In a very short time rebel bullets commenced to come thick and +fast, and one of their number was killed and three others wounded. It +soon became evident that the rebels were in great force in front +of the battery, and orders were issued for them to choose another +position. At about 11 o'clock the battery formed in a new position +on an elevated piece of ground, and whenever the rebels undertook to +cross the field in front of them the artillery raked them down with +frightful slaughter. Several times the rebels placed batteries In the +timber at the farther end of the field, but in each instance the +guns of the First battery dislodged them before they could get into +position. For hours the rebels vainly endeavored to break the lines +of the Union forces, but in every instance they were repulsed with +frightful loss, the canister mowing them down at close range. About 5 +o'clock the rebels succeeded in flanking Gen. Prentiss and took part +of his force prisoners. The battery was immediately withdrawn to an +elevation near the Tennessee river, and it was not long before firing +again commenced and kept up for half an hour, the ground fairly +shaking from the continuous firing on both sides of the line. At +about 6 o'clock the firing ceased, and the rebels withdrew to a safe +distance from the landing. The casualties of the day were three killed +and six wounded, two of the latter dying shortly afterward. The fight +at what was known as the "hornet's nest" was most terrific, and had +not the First battery held out so heroically and valiantly the rebels +would have succeeded in forcing a retreat of the Union lines to a +point dangerously near the Tennessee river. Capt. Munch's horse +received a bullet In his head and fell, and the captain himself +received a wound in the thigh, disabling him from further service +during the battle. After Capt. Munch was wounded Lieut. Pfaender took +command of the battery, and he had a horse shot from under him during +the day. On the morning of April 7, Gen. Buell having arrived, the +battery was held in reserve and did not participate in the battle +that day. The First battery was the only organization from Minnesota +engaged in the battle, and their conduct in the fiercest of the +struggle, and in changing position in face of fire from the whole +rebel line, was such as to receive the warmest commendation from the +commanding officer. It was the first battle in which they had taken +part, and as they had only received their guns and horses a few weeks +before, they had not had much opportunity for drill work. Their +terrible execution at critical times convinced the rebels that they +had met a foe worthy of their steel. + + * * * * * + +Among the many thousands left dead and dying on the blood-stained +field of Pittsburg Landing there was one name that was very dear in +the hearts of the patriotic people of St. Paul,--a name that was as +dear to the people of St. Paul as was the memory of the immortal +Ellsworth to the people of Chicago. Capt. William Henry Acker, while +marching at the head of his company, with uplifted sword and with +voice and action urging on his comrades to the thickest of the fray, +was pierced in the forehead by a rebel bullet and fell dead upon the +ill-fated field. + +Before going into action Capt. Acker was advised by his comrades not +to wear his full uniform, as he was sure to be a target for rebel +bullets, but the captain is said to have replied that if he had to die +he would die with his harness on. Soon after forming his command into +line, and when they had advanced only a few yards, he was singled out +by a rebel sharpshooter and instantly killed--the only man in the. +company to receive fatal injuries. "Loved, almost adored, by the +company," says one of them, writing of the sad event, "Capt. Acker's +fall cast a deep shadow of gloom over his command." It was but for +a moment. With a last look at their dead commander, and with the +watchword 'this for our captain,' volley after volley from their guns +carried death into the ranks of his murderers. From that moment but +one feeling seemed to possess his still living comrades--that of +revenge for the death of their captain. How terribly they carried out +that purpose the number of rebel slain piled around the vicinity of +his body fearfully attest. + +The announcement of the death of Capt. Acker was a very severe blow to +his relatives and many friends in this city. No event thus far in the +history of the Rebellion had brought to our doors such a realizing +sense of the sad realities of the terrible havoc wrought upon the +battlefield. A noble life had been sacrificed in the cause of +freedom--one more name had been added to the long death roll of the +nation's heroes. + +Capt. Acker was born a soldier--brave, able, popular and +courteous--and had he lived would undoubtedly been placed high in rank +long before the close of the rebellion. No person ever went to the +front in whom the citizens of St. Paul had more hope for a brilliant +future. He was born in New York State in 1833, and was twenty-eight +years of age at the time of his death. He came to St. Paul in 1854 and +commenced the study of law in the office of his brother-in-law, Hon. +Edmund Rice. He did not remain long in the law business, however, but +soon changed to a position in the Bank of Minnesota, which had just +been established by ex-Gov. Marshall. For some time he was captain of +the Pioneer Guards, a company which he was instrumental in forming, +and which was the finest military organization in the West at +that time. In 1860 he was chosen commander of the Wide-Awakes, a +marching-club, devoted to the promotion of the candidacy of Abraham +Lincoln, and many of the men he so patiently drilled during that +exciting campaign became officers in the volunteer service in that +great struggle that soon followed. Little did the captain imagine at +that time that the success of the man whose cause he espoused would so +soon be the means of his untimely death. At the breaking out of the +war Capt. Acker was adjutant general of the State of Minnesota, but he +thought he would be of more use to his country in active service and +resigned that position and organized a company for the First Minnesota +regiment, of which he was made captain. At the first battle of Bull +Run he was wounded, and for his gallant action was made captain in +the Seventeenth United States Regulars, an organization that had +been recently created by act of congress. The Sixteenth regiment was +attached to Buell's army, and participated in the second day's battle, +and Cat. Acker was one of the first to fall on that terrible day, +being shot in the identical spot in the forehead where he was wounded +at the first battle of Bull Run. As soon as the news was received in +St. Paul of the captain's death his father, Hon. Henry Acker, left for +Pittsburg Landing, hoping to be able to recover the remains of his +martyred son and bring the body back to St. Paul. His body was easily +found, his burial place having been carefully marked by members of the +Second Minnesota who arrived on the battleground a short time after +the battle. When the remains arrived in St. Paul they were met at +the steamboat landing by a large number of citizens and escorted to +Masonic hall, where they rested till the time of the funeral. The +funeral obsequies were held at St. Paul's church on Sunday, May 4, +1862, and were attended by the largest concourse of citizens that +had ever attended a funeral in St. Paul, many being present from +Minneapolis, St. Anthony and Stillwater. The respect shown to the +memory of Capt. Acker was universal, and of a character which fully +demonstrated the high esteem in which he was held by the people of St. +Paul. + +When the first Grand Army post was formed in St. Paul a name +commemorative of one of Minnesota's fallen heroes was desired for the +organization. Out of the long list of martyrs Minnesota gave to the +cause of the Union no name seemed more appropriate than that of the +heroic Capt. Acker, and it was unanimously decided that the first +association of Civil war veterans in this city should be known as +Acker post. + + +THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. + + * * * * * + +The terrible and sensational news that Abraham Lincoln had been +assassinated, which was flashed over the wires on the morning of +April 15, 1865 (forty years ago yesterday), was the most appalling +announcement that had been made during the long crisis through which +the country had just passed. Every head was bowed in grief. No tongue +could find language sufficiently strong to express condemnation of the +fiendish act. The entire country was plunged in mourning. It was not +safe for any one to utter a word against the character of the martyred +president. At no place in the entire country was the terrible calamity +more deeply felt than in St. Paul. All public and private buildings +were draped in mourning. Every church held memorial services. The +services at the little House of Hope church on Walnut street will long +be remembered by all those who were there. The church was heavily +draped in mourning. It had been suddenly transformed from a house of +hope to a house of sorrow, a house of woe. The pastor of the church +was the Rev. Frederick A. Noble. He was one of the most eloquent and +learned divines in the city--fearless, forcible and aggressive--the +Henry Ward Beecher of the Northwest. President Lincoln was his ideal +statesman. + +The members of the House of Hope were intensely patriotic. Many of +their number were at the front defending their imperiled country. +Scores and scores of times during the desperate conflict had the +eloquent pastor of this church delivered stirring addresses favoring +a vigorous prosecution of the war. During the darkest days of the +Rebellion, when the prospect of the final triumph of the cause of the +Union seemed furthest off, Mr. Noble never faltered; he believed that +the cause was just and that right would finally triumph. When the +terrible and heart-rending news was received that an assassin's bullet +had ended the life of the greatest of all presidents the effect was +so paralyzing that hearts almost ceased beating. Every member of the +congregation felt as if one of their own household had been suddenly +taken from them. The services at the church on the Sunday morning +following the assassination were most solemn and impressive. The +little edifice was crowded almost to suffication, and when the pastor +was seen slowly ascending the pulpit, breathless silence prevailed. He +was pale and haggard, and appeared to be suffering great mental agony. +With bowed head and uplifted hands, and with a voice trembling with +almost uncontrollable emotion, he delivered one of the most fervent +and impressive invocations ever heard by the audience. Had the dead +body of the president been placed in front of the altar, the solemnity +of the occasion could not have been greater. In the discourse that +followed, Mr. Noble briefly sketched the early history of the +president, and then devoted some time to the many grand deeds he had +accomplished during the time he had been in the presidential chair. +For more than four years he had patiently and anxiously watched the +progress of the terrible struggle, and now, when victory was in sight, +when it was apparent to all that the fall of Richmond, the surrender +of Lee and the probable surrender of Johnston would end the long war, +he was cruelly stricken down by the hand of an assassin. "With malice +towards none and with charity to all, and with firmness for the right, +as God gives us to see the right," were utterances then fresh from the +president's lips. To strike down such a man at such a time was indeed +a crime most horrible. There was scarcely a dry eye in the audience. +Men and women alike wept. It was supposed at the time that Secretary +of State Seward had also fallen a victim of the assassin's dagger. +It was the purpose of the conspirators to murder the president, vice +president and entire cabinet, but in only one instance did the attempt +prove fatal. Secretary Seward was the foremost statesmen of the +time. His diplomatic skill had kept the country free from foreign +entanglements during the long and bitter struggle. He, too, was +eulogized by the minister, and it rendered the occasion doubly +mournful. + +Since that time two other presidents have been mercilessly slain by +the hand of an assassin, and although the shock to the country was +terrible, it never seemed as if the grief was as deep and universal +as when the bullet fired by John Wilkes Booth pierced the temple of +Abraham Lincoln. + + + + +AN ALLEGORICAL HOROSCOPE + + * * * * * + +IN TWO CHAPTERS. + + * * * * * + +CHAPTER I.--AN OPTIMISTIC FORECAST. + +As the sun was gently receding in the western horizon on a beautiful +summer evening nearly a century ago, a solitary voyageur might have +been seen slowly ascending the sinuous stream that stretches from the +North Star State to the Gulf of Mexico. He was on a mission of peace +and good will to the red men of the distant forest. On nearing the +shore of what is now a great city the lonely voyageur was amazed +on discovering that the pale face of the white man had many years +preceded him. "What, ho!" he muttered to himself; "methinks I see a +paleface toying with a dusky maiden. I will have speech with him." On +approaching near where the two were engaged in some weird incantation +the voyageur overheard the dusky maiden impart a strange message to +the paleface by her side. "From the stars I see in the firmament, the +fixed stars that predominate in the configuration, I deduce the future +destiny of man. 'Tis with thee. O Robert, to live always. This elixer +which I now do administer to thee has been known to our people for +countless generations. The possession of it will enable thee to +conquer all thine enemies. Thou now beholdest, O Robert, the ground +upon which some day a great city will be erected. Thou art destined to +become the mighty chief of this great metropolis. Thy reign will be +long and uninterrupted. Thou wert born when the conjunction of the +planets did augur a life of perfect beatitude. As the years roll +away the inhabitants of the city will multiply with great rapidity. +Questions of great import regarding the welfare of the people will +often come before thee for adjustment. To be successful In thy calling +thou must never be guilty of having decided convictions on any +subject, as thy friends will sometimes be pitted against each other in +the advocacy of their various schemes. Thou must not antagonize either +side by espousing the other's cause, but must always keep the rod and +the gun close by thy side, so that when these emergencies arise and +thou doth scent danger in the air thou canst quietly withdraw from the +scene of action and chase the festive bison over the distant prairies +or revel in piscatorial pleasure on the placid waters of a secluded +lake until the working majority hath discovered some method of +relieving thee of the necessity of committing thyself, and then, O +Robert. thou canst return and complacently inform the disappointed +party that the result would have been far different had not thou been +called suddenly away. Thou canst thus preserve the friendship of all +parties, and their votes are more essential to thee than the mere +adoption of measures affecting the prosperity of thy people. When the +requirements of the people of thy city become too great for thee alone +to administer to all their wants, the great family of Okons, the +lineal descendants of the sea kings from the bogs of Tipperary, will +come to thy aid. Take friendly counsel with them, as to incur their +displeasure will mean thy downfall. Let all the ends thou aimest at be +to so dispose of the offices within thy gift that the Okons, and the +followers of the Okons, will be as fixed in their positions as are the +stars in their orbits." + +After delivering this strange astrological exhortation the dusky +maiden slowly retreated toward the entrance of a nearby cavern, the +paleface meandered forth to survey the ground of his future greatness +and the voyageur resumed his lonely journey toward the setting sun. + + * * * * * + +CHAPTER II.--A TERRIBLE REALITY. + + +After the lapse of more than four score of years the voyageur from the +frigid North returned from his philanthropic visit to the red man. A +wonderful change met the eye. A transformation as magnificent as it +was bewildering had occurred. The same grand old bluffs looked proudly +down upon the Father of Water. The same magnificent river pursued +its unmolested course toward the boundless ocean. But all else had +changed. The hostile warrior no longer impeded the onward march of +civilization, and cultivated fields abounded on every side. +Steamers were hourly traversing the translucent waters of the great +Mississippi; steam and electricity were carrying people with the +rapidity of lightning in every direction; gigantic buildings appeared +on the earth's surface, visible in either direction as far as the +eye could reach; on every corner was a proud descendant of Erin's +nobility, clad in gorgeous raiment, who had been branded "St. Paul's +finest" before leaving the shores of his native land. In the midst of +this great city was a magnificent building, erected by the generosity +of its people, in which the paleface, supported on either side by the +Okons, was the high and mighty ruler. The Okons and the followers of +the Okons were in possession of every office within the gift of the +paleface. Floating proudly from the top of this great building was an +immense banner, on which was painted in monster letters the talismanic +words: "For mayor, 1902, Robert A. Smith," Verily the prophecy of the +dusky maiden had been fulfilled. The paleface had become impregnably +intrenched. The Okons could never be dislodged. + +With feelings of unutterable anguish at the omnipresence of the Okons, +the aged voyageur quietly retraced his footsteps and was never more +seen by the helpless and overburdened subjects of the paleface. + + + + +SPELLING DOWN A SCHOOL. + + * * * * * + +When I was about twelve years of age I resided in a small village in +one of the mountainous and sparsely settled sections of the northern +part of Pennsylvania. + +It was before the advent of the railroad and telegraph in that +locality. The people were not blessed with prosperity as it is known +to-day. Neither were they gifted with the intellectual attainments +possessed by the inhabitants of the same locality at the present time. +Many of the old men served in the war of 1812, and they were looked up +to with about the same veneration as are the heroes of the Civil War +to-day. It was at a time when the younger generation was beginning to +acquire a thirst for knowledge, but it was not easily obtained under +the peculiar conditions existing at that period. A school district +that was able to support a school for six months in each year was +indeed considered fortunate, but even in these the older children were +not permitted to attend during the summer months, as their services +were considered indispensable in the cultivation of the soil. + +Reading, writing and arithmetic were about all the studies pursued in +those rural school districts, although occasionally some of the better +class of the country maidens could be seen listlessly glancing over a +geography or grammar, but they were regarded as "stuck up," and the +other pupils thought they were endeavoring to master something far +beyond their capacity. + +Our winter school term generally commenced the first week in December +and lasted until the first week in March, with one evening set apart +each week for a spelling-match and recitation. We had our spelling +match on Saturday nights, and every four weeks we would meet with +schools in other districts in a grand spelling contest. I was +considered too young to participate in any of the joint spelling +matches, and my heart was heavy within me every time I saw a great +four-horse sleigh loaded with joyful boys and girls on their way to +one of the great contests. + +One Saturday night there was to be a grand spelling match at a country +crossroad about four miles from our village, and four schools were to +participate. As I saw the great sleigh loaded for the coming struggle +the thought occurred to me that if I only managed to secure a ride +without being observed I might in some way be able to demonstrate to +the older scholars that in spelling at least I was their equal. While +the driver was making a final inspection of the team preparatory to +starting I managed to crawl under his seat, where I remained as quiet +as mouse until the team arrived at the point of destination. I had not +considered the question of getting back--I left that to chance. As +soon as the different schools had arrived two of the best spellers +were selected to choose sides, and it happened that neither of them +was from our school. I stood in front of the old-fashioned fire-place +and eagerly watched the pupils as they took their places in the line. +They were drawn in the order of their reputation as spellers. When +they had finished calling the names I was still standing by the +fireplace, and I thought my chance was hopeless. The school-master +from our district noticed my woebegone appearance, and he arose from +his seat and said: + +"That boy standing by the fireplace is one of the best spellers in our +school." + +My name was then reluctantly called, and I took my place at the +foot of the column. I felt very grateful towards our master for his +compliment and I thought I would be able to hold my position in the +line long enough to demonstrate that our master was correct. The +school-master from our district was selected to pronounce the words, +and I inwardly rejoiced. + +After going down the line several times and a number of scholars had +fallen on some simple word the school-master pronounced the word +"phthisic." My heart leaped as the word fell from the school-master's +lips. It was one of my favorite hard words and was not in the spelling +book. It had been selected so as to floor the entire line in order to +make way for the exercises to follow. + +As I looked over the long line of overgrown country boys and girls I +felt sure that none of them would be able to correctly spell the word. +"Next!" "Next!" "Next!" said the school-master, and my pulse beat +faster and faster as the older scholars ahead of me were relegated to +their seats. + +At last the crucial time had come. I was the only one left standing. +As the school-master stood directly in front of me and said "Next," I +could see by the twinkle in his eye that he thought I could correctly +spell the word. My countenance had betrayed me. With a clear and +distinct voice loud enough to be heard by every one in the room +I spelled out "ph-th-is-ic--phthisic." "Correct," said the +school-master, and all the scholars looked aghast at my promptness. + +I shall never forget the kindly smile of the old school-master, as he +laid the spelling book upon the teacher's desk, with the quiet remark: +"I told you he could spell." I had spelled down four schools, and my +reputation as a speller was established. Our school was declared to +have furnished the champion speller of the four districts, and ever +after my name was not the last one to be called. + +On my return home I was not compelled to ride under the driver's seat. + + +HALF A CENTURY WITH THE PIONEER PRESS. + +Pioneer Press, April 18, 1908:--Frank Moore, superintendent of the +composing room if the Pioneer Press, celebrated yesterday the fiftieth +anniversary of his connection with the paper. A dozen of the old +employes of the Pioneer Press entertained Mr. Moore at an informal +dinner at Magee's to celebrate the unusual event. Mr. Moore's service +on the Pioneer Press, in fact, has been longer than the Pioneer +Press itself, for he began his work on one of the newspapers which +eventually was merged into the present Pioneer Press. He has held his +present position as the head of the composing room for about forty +years. + +Frank Moore was fifteen years old when he came to St. Paul from Tioga +county, Pa., where he was born. He came with his brother, George W. +Moore, who was one of the owners and managers of the Minnesotian. His +brother had been East and brought the boy West with him. Mr. Moore's +first view of newspaper work was on the trip up the river to St. Paul. +There had been a special election on a bond issue and on the way his +brother stopped at the various towns to got the election returns. + +Mr. Moore went to work for the Minnesotian on April 17, 1858, as a +printer's "devil." It is interesting in these days of water works and +telegraph to recall that among his duties was to carry water for the +office. He got it from a spring below where the Merchants hotel now +stands. Another of his jobs was to meet the boats. Whenever a steamer +whistled Mr. Moore ran to the dock to get the bundle of newspapers the +boat brought, and hurry with it back to the office. It was from these +papers that the editors got the telegraph news of the world. He also +was half the carrier staff of the paper. His territory covered all +the city above Wabasha street, but as far as he went up the hill +was College avenue and Ramsey street was his limit out West Seventh +street. There was no St. Paul worth mentioning beyond that. + +When the Press absorbed the Minnesotian in 1861, Mr. Moore went with +it, and when in 1874 the Press and Pioneer were united Mr. Moore +stayed with the merged paper. His service has been continuous, +excepting during his service as a volunteer in the Civil war. The +Pioneer Press, with its antecedents, has been his only interest. + +While Mr. Moore's service is notable for its length, it is still more +notable for the fact that he has grown with the paper, so that +to-day at sixty-five he is still filling his important position as +efficiently on a large modern newspaper as he filled it as a young man +when things in the Northwest, including its newspapers, were in the +beginning. Successive managements found that his services always gave +full value and recognized in him an employe of unusual loyalty and +devotion to the interests of the paper. Successive generations of +employes have found him always just the kind of man it is a pleasure +to have as a fellow workman. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10146 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f27c57 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10146 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10146) diff --git a/old/10146.txt b/old/10146.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c53f515 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10146.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4862 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Reminiscences of Pioneer Days in St. Paul, by +Frank Moore + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Reminiscences of Pioneer Days in St. Paul + +Author: Frank Moore + +Release Date: November 20, 2003 [eBook #10146] + +Language: English + +Chatacter set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS IN +ST. PAUL*** + + +E-text prepared by Josephine Paolucci and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS IN ST. PAUL + +A Collection of Articles Written for and Published in the Daily +Pioneer Press. + +By FRANK MOORE + + + + + + +NEWSPAPER STRUGGLES OF PIONEER DAYS. + +A BRIEF NARRATION OF INCIDENTS AND EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY +DAYS OF ST. PAUL, DAILY NEWSPAPERS. + + +If James M. Goodhue could revisit the earth and make a tour among the +daily newspaper offices of St. Paul he would discover that wonderful +strides had been made in the method of producing a newspaper during +the latter half of the past century. Among the first things to attract +the attention of this old-timer would be the web-perfecting press, +capable of producing 25,000 impressions an hour, instead of the old +hand press of 240 impressions an hour; the linotype machine, capable +of setting 6,000 to 10,000 ems per hour, instead of the old hand +compositor producing only 800 to 1,000 ems per hour, and the mailing +machine, enabling one man to do the work of five or six under the +old method. Think of getting out the Sunday Pioneer Press with the +material in use fifty years ago. It would take 600 hand presses, 600 +hand pressmen and 600 boys three hours to print the edition, and as +there were no means of stereotyping in those days the forms would have +to be set up 600 times, requiring the services of 5,000 compositors. +Papers printed under these conditions would have to be sold for one +dollar each, and there would not be much profit in it at that. The +first daily papers printed in St. Paul were not conducted or a very +gigantic scale, as the entire force of one office generally consisted +of one pressman, five or six compositors, two editors and a business +manager. A few reminiscences of the trials and tribulations of the +early newspaper manager, editor and compositor may not be wholly +devoid of interest. + + * * * * * + +In 1857 there occurred in Minnesota an election of delegates to the +constitutional convention to provide for the admission of Minnesota +into the galaxy of states. The election was so close, politically, +that when the delegates met there was a division, and the Republicans +and Democrats held separate conventions. At the conclusion of the work +of the two conventions the contract for printing was awarded to the +two leading papers of the state--the Pioneer and the Minnesotian--the +Pioneer to print the proceedings of the Democratic body and the +Minnesotian that of the Republican. This contract called for the +expenditure of considerable money for material with which to perform +the work. Mr. Moore, the business manager of the Minnesotian, went to +New York and purchased a Hoe press, the first one ever brought to the +state, and a large quantity of type; also a Hoe proof press, which is +still in use in the Pioneer Press composing room. When the book was +about completed the business manager of the Minnesotian was informed +that an injunction had been issued prohibiting him from drawing +any money from the state until the question of the right of the +Minnesotian to do any state printing had been determined by the +district court. Mr. Goodrich was state printer and claimed he had a +right to print the proceedings of both constitutional bodies. This +action on the part of the Pioneer produced great consternation in the +Minnesotian office, as most of the men had not received more than half +pay for some time, and now, when the balance of their pay was almost +in sight, they were suddenly compelled to await the slow and doubtful +action of the courts before receiving pay for their summer's work. The +district court, subsequently confirmed by the supreme court, decided +in favor of the Minnesotian, and the day following the decision Mr. +Moore, of the Minnesotian, brought down a bag of gold from the capitol +containing $4,000, and divided it up among his employes. + + * * * * * + +In 1858, when the first Atlantic cable was laid, the news was +anxiously looked for, and nearly every inhabitant of the city turned +out to greet the arrival of the Gray Eagle and Itasca, two of the +fastest boats on the river, which were expected to bring the news +of the successful laying of the cable. The Gray Eagle started from +Dubuque at 9 o'clock in the morning and the Itasca started from +Prairie du Chien, about 100 miles farther up the river, at noon of the +same day. When the boats reached the bend below the river they were +abreast of each other, and as they reached the levee it was hardly +possible to tell which was ahead. One of the passengers on the Gray +Eagle had a copy of the Dubuque Herald containing the Queen's message, +tied up with a small stone on the inside of it, and as he threw it to +the shore a messenger from the Minnesotian caught it and ran up Bench +street to the Minnesotian office, where the printers were waiting, +and the Minnesotian had the satisfaction of getting out an extra some +little time before their competitors. + + * * * * * + +In the summer season the newspapers had to rely, to a considerable +extent, on the steamboats for late Dubuque and Chicago papers for +telegraph news. There were three or four daily lines of steamers to +St. Paul, and every one of them could be distinguished by its whistle. +When it was time for the arrival of the boat bringing the newspapers +from which the different papers expected to get their telegraphic +news, messengers from the different offices would be at the levee, and +as the boat neared the shore they would leap for the gangplank, and +there was always a scramble to get to the clerk's office first. +James J. Hill and the late Gus Borup were almost always at the levee +awaiting the arrival of the steamers, but as they were after copies +of the boats' manifest they did not come in competition with the +adventurous kids from the newspaper offices. + + * * * * * + +The Minnesotian was probably the first daily paper in the West to +illustrate a local feature. During the summer of 1859 a man by the +name of Jackson was lynched by a mob in Wright county, and Gov. Sibley +called out the Pioneer Guards to proceed to the place where the +lynching occurred and arrest all persons connected with the tragedy. +The Pioneer Guards was the crack military company of the state, and +the only service any of its members ever expected to do was in the +ballroom or to participate in a Fourth of July parade. When they were +called out by the governor there was great consternation in the ranks. +One of the members, who is still a prominent politician in the city, +when told that his first duty was to serve his country, tremblingly +remarked that he thought his first duty was to provide for his wife +and family. + +A number of them made their wills before departing, as they thought +the whole of Wright county was in open rebellion. After being absent +for about a week they proudly marched back to the city without ever +firing a gun or seeing an enemy. The late J. Fletcher Williams was +city editor of the Minnesotian, and he wrote an extended account of +the expedition, and It was profusely illustrated with patent medicine +cuts and inverted wood type and border, the only available material at +that time that could be procured. + + * * * * * + +The year 1859 was a memorable one in the political history of +Minnesota. Alexander Ramsey and George L. Becker, both now living in +this city, were the rival candidates for governor. The Republicans +made extraordinary efforts to elect their state and legislative +tickets, as both governor and United States senator were at stake. +Among the speakers imported by the Republicans were the Hon. Galusha +A. Grow of Pennsylvania and Hon. Schuyler Colfax of Indiana. Mr. Grow, +then as now, represented the congressional district in Pennsylvania in +which I formally resided, and I was very anxious to hear him, as the +first political speech I had ever heard was made by him in a small +village in Pennsylvania. The speakers were announced to speak at the +old People's theater, on the corner of Fourth and St. Peter streets, +and I was among the first to enter. The theater was packed to +overflowing. Mr. Grow had made a very interesting speech of about an +hour's duration, and Mr. Colfax was to follow for an equal length of +time. After Mr. Colfax had spoken about ten minutes an alarm of fire +was sounded and in less than fifteen minutes the entire structure was +burned to the ground. This happened about 9:30 o'clock in the +evening, and, strange to relate, not one of the morning papers had an +announcement of the fact the next day. The morning papers at that time +were something like an evening paper of to-day. They were set up and +made up in the afternoon and generally printed in the early part of +the evening. The result of that election was very gratifying to the +Republicans. I can see old Dr. Foster now writing a double column +political head for the Minnesotian, the first two lines of which were: +"Shout, Republicans, Shout! We've Cleaned the Breech Clouts Out!" + +Dr. Foster was the editor of the Minnesotian and was quite a power in +the Republican party. He wielded a vigorous pen and possessed a very +irascible temper. I have often seen him perform some Horace Greeley +antics in the composing room of the old Minnesotian. At the time of +the execution of John Brown for his attempted raid into Virginia, I +remember bringing the Chicago Tribune to the doctor, containing the +announcement of the execution. I had arranged the paper so that the +doctor could take in the contents of the heading at the first glance. +The doctor looked at the headlines a second and then exclaimed, loud +enough to be heard a block, "Great God! In the nineteenth century, a +man hung for an idea!" + +At another time the doctor became very much enraged over some news +that I had laid before him. In the early 50's Galusha A. Grow, of +Pennsylvania, introduced into the house of representatives the first +homestead law and the Republican party soon afterward incorporated +the idea into their platform as one of their pet measures. After +superhuman effort the bill passed the house of representatives, that +body being nearly tie politically, and was sent to the senate. The +Democratic majority in the senate was not very favorably impressed +with the measure, but with the assistance of the late President +Johnson, who was senator from Tennessee at that time, the bill passed +the senate by a small majority. There was great rejoicing over the +event and no one supposed for a moment that the president would veto +the measure. When I laid the Chicago Tribune before the excitable +doctor containing the announcement of Buchanan's veto the very air was +blue with oaths. The doctor took the paper and rushed out into the +street waving the paper frantically in the air, cursing the president +at every step. + + * * * * * + +From 1854, the date of the starting of the three St. Paul daily +papers, until 1860, the time of the completion of the Winslow +telegraph line, there was great strife between the Pioneer, +Minnesotian and Times as to which would be the first to appear on the +street with the full text of the president's message. The messages of +Pierce and Buchanan were very lengthy, and for several days preceding +their arrival the various offices had all the type of every +description distributed and all the printers who could possibly be +procured engaged to help out on the extra containing the forthcoming +message. It was customary to pay every one employed, from the devil to +the foreman, $2.50 in gold, and every printer in the city was notified +to be in readiness for the approaching typographical struggle. One +year one of the proprietors of the Minnesotian thought he would +surprise the other offices, and he procured the fastest livery team In +the city and went down the river as far as Red Wing to intercept the +mail coach, and expected to return to St. Paul three or four hours in +advance of the regular mail, which would give him that much advantage +over his competitors. Owing to some miscalculation as to the time the +stage left Chicago the message was delivered in St. Paul twenty-four +hours earlier than was expected, and the proprietor of the Minnesotian +had the pleasure of receiving a copy of his own paper, containing the +complete message, long before he returned to St. Paul. The management +always provided an oyster supper for the employes of the paper first +out with the message, and it generally required a week for the typos +to fully recover from its effect. + + * * * * * + +As an evidence of what was uppermost in the minds of most people at +this time, and is probably still true to-day, it may be related that +in the spring of 1860, when the great prize fight between Heenan and +Sayers was to occur in England, and the meeting of the Democratic +national convention in Charleston, in which the Minnesota Democrats +were in hopes that their idol, Stephen A. Douglas, would be nominated +for president, the first question asked by the people I would meet on +the way from the boat landing to the office would be: "Anything from +the prize fight? What is the news from the Charleston convention?" + + * * * * * + +"The good old times" printers often talk about were evidently not the +years between the great panic of 1857 and the breaking out of the +Civil war in 1861. Wages were low and there was absolutely no money to +speak of. When a man did occasionally get a dollar he was not sure it +would be worth its face value when the next boat would arrive with +a new Bank Note Reporter. Married men considered themselves very +fortunate when they could get, on Saturday night, an order on a +grocery or dry goods store for four or five dollars, and the single +men seldom received more than $2 or $3 cash. That was not more than +half enough to pay their board bill. This state of affairs continued +until the Press was started in 1861, when Gov. Marshall inaugurated +the custom, which still prevails, of paying his employes every +Saturday night. + + * * * * * + +Another instance of the lack of enterprise on the part of the daily +paper of that day: + +During the summer of 1860 a large party of Republican statesmen and +politicians visited St. Paul, consisting of State Senator W.H. Seward. +Senator John P. Hale, Charles Francis Adams, Senator Nye, Gen. Stewart +L. Woodford and several others of lesser celebrity. The party came to +Minnesota in the interest of the Republican candidate for president. +Mr. Seward made a great speech from the front steps of the old +capitol, in which he predicted that at some distant day the capitol +of this great republic would be located not far from the Falls of St. +Anthony. There was a large gathering at the capitol to hear him, but +those who were not fortunate enough to get within sound of his voice +had to wait until the New York Herald, containing a full report of +his speech, reached St. Paul before they could read what the great +statesman had said. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1860 the first telegraph line was completed to St. +Paul. Newspaper proprietors thought they were then in the world, so +far as news is concerned, but it was not to be so. The charges for +telegraph news were so excessive that the three papers in St. Paul +could not afford the luxury of the "latest news by Associated Press." +The offices combined against the extortionate rates demanded by the +telegraph company and made an agreement not to take the dispatches +until the rates were lowered; but it was like an agreement of the +railroad presidents of the present day, it was not adhered to. The +Pioneer made a secret contract with the telegraph company and left the +Minnesotian and the Times out in the cold. Of course that was a very +unpleasant state of affairs and for some time the Minnesotian and +Times would wait until the Pioneer was out in the morning and would +then set up the telegraph and circulate their papers. One of the +editors connected with the Minnesotian had an old acquaintance in the +pressroom of the Pioneer, and through him secured one of the first +papers printed. This had been going on for some time when Earle S. +Goodrich, the editor of the Pioneer, heard of it, and he accordingly +made preparation to perpetrate a huge joke on the Minnesotian. Mr. +Goodrich was a very versatile writer and he prepared four or five +columns of bogus telegraph and had it set up and two or three copies +of the Pioneer printed for the especial use of the Minnesotian. The +scheme worked to a charm. Amongst the bogus news was a two-column +speech purporting to have been made by William H. Seward in the senate +just previous to the breaking out of the war. Mr. Seward's well-known +ideas were so closely imitated that their genuineness were not +questioned. The rest of the news was made up of dispatches purporting +to be from the then excited Southern States. The Minnesotian received +a Pioneer about 4 o'clock in the morning and by 8 the entire edition +was distributed throughout the city. I had distributed the Minnesotian +throughout the upper portion of the city, and just as I returned to +Bridge Square I met the carrier of the Pioneer, and laughed at him for +being so late. He smiled, but did not speak. As soon as I learned what +had happened I did not do either. The best of the joke was, the Times +could not obtain an early copy of the Pioneer and set up the bogus +news from the Minnesotian, and had their edition printed and ready to +circulate when they heard of the sell. They at once set up the genuine +news and circulated both the bogus and regular, and made fun of the +Minnesotian for being so easily taken in. + + * * * * * + +The Pioneer retained the monopoly of the news until the Press was +started, on the 1st of January, 1861. The Press made arrangements with +Mr. Winslow for full telegraphic dispatches, but there was another +hitch in the spring of 1861 and for some time the Press had to obtain +its telegraph from proof sheets of the St. Anthony Falls News, a paper +published in what is now East Minneapolis. Gov. Marshall was very much +exercised at being compelled to go to a neighboring town for telegraph +news, and one night when news of unusual importance was expected he +had a very stormy interview with Mr. Winslow. No one ever knew exactly +what he told him, but that night the Press had full telegraphic +reports, and has had ever since. + + * * * * * + +Gov. Marshall was a noble man. When the first battle of Bull Run +occurred the earlier reports announced a great Union victory. I +remember of going to Dan Rice's circus that night and felt as chipper +as a young kitten. After the circus was out I went back to the office +to see if any late news had been received. I met Gov. Marshall at the +door, and with tears rolling down his cheeks he informed me that the +Union force had met with a great reverse and he was afraid the +country would never recover from it. But it did, and the governor +was afterward one of the bravest of the brave in battling for his +country's honor. + + * * * * * + +Printers were very patriotic, and when Father Abraham called for +"three hundred thousand more" in July, 1862, so many enlisted that +it was with much difficulty that the paper was enabled to present a +respectable appearance. The Press advertised for anything that could +set type to come in and help it out. I remember one man applying +who said he never had set any type, but he had a good theoretical +knowledge of the business. + +One evening an old gentleman by the name of Metcalf, father of the +late T.M. Metcalf, came wandering into the office about 9 o'clock and +told the foreman he thought he could help him out. He was given a +piece of copy and worked faithfully until the paper went to press. +He was over eighty years old and managed to set about 1,000 ems. Mr. +Metcalf got alarmed at his father's absence from home and searched the +city over, and finally found him in the composing room of the Press. +The old man would not go home with his son, but insisted on remaining +until the paper was up. + + * * * * * + +Although Minnesota sent to the war as many, if not more, men than any +other state in the Union in proportion to its population, yet it was +necessary to resort to a draft in a few counties where the population +was largely foreign. The feeling against the draft was very bitter, +and the inhabitants of the counties which were behind in the quota did +not take kindly to the idea of being drafted to fight for a cause they +did not espouse. A riot was feared, and troops were ordered down from +the fort to be in readiness for any disturbance that might occur. +Arrangements for the prosecution of the draft were made as rapidly as +possible, but the provost marshal was not in readiness to have it take +place on the day designated by the war department. This situation +of affairs was telegraphed to the president and the following +characteristic reply was received: "If the draft cannot take place, of +course it cannot take place. Necessity knows no law. A. Lincoln." The +bitterest feeling of the anti-drafters seemed to be against the +old St. Paul Press, a paper that earnestly advocated the vigorous +prosecution of the war. Threats were made to mob the office. A company +was organized for self-defense, and Capt. E.R. Otis, now of West +Superior, one of the Press compositors at that time, was made post +commander. Capt. Otis had seen service in the early part of the war +and the employes considered themselves fortunate in having a genuine +military man for a leader. The office was barricaded, fifteen old +Springfield muskets and 800 rounds of ammunition was brought down from +the capitol and every one instructed what to do in case of an attack. +I slept on a lounge in the top story of the old Press building +overlooking Bridge Square, and the guns and ammunition were under my +bed. I was supposed to give the alarm should the mob arrive after the +employes had gone home. As there was no possible avenue of escape in +case of an attack, it looks now as if the post commander displayed +poor judgment in placing a lone sentinel on guard. But there was no +riot. The excitement gradually died away and the draft took place +without interruption. + + * * * * * + +Before and some time after the war the daily newspapers took advantage +of all the holidays and seldom issued papers on the days following +Christmas, New Year's, Washington's birthday, Fourth of July +and Thanksgiving. On the Fourth of July, 1863, the Pioneer made +arrangements to move from their old quarters near the corner of Third +and Cedar streets to the corner of Third and Robert. It happened +that on that day two of the greatest events of the Civil war had +occurred--the battle of Gettysburg and the surrender of Vicksburg. The +Pioneer being engaged in moving their plant could not issue an extra +on that occasion, and the Press had the field exclusively to itself. +The news of these two great events had become pretty generally known +throughout the city and the anxiety to get fuller particulars was +simply intense. The Press, having a clear field for that day, did not +propose to issue its extra until the fullest possible details had +been received. A great crowd had assembled in front of the old Press +office, anxiously awaiting details of the great Union victories. I had +helped prepare the news for the press and followed the forms to the +press room. As soon as a sufficient number of papers had been printed +I attempted to carry them to the counting room and place them on sale. +As I opened the side door of the press room and undertook to reach the +counting room by a short circuit, I found the crowd on the outside had +become so large that it was impossible to gain an entrance in that +direction, and undertook to retreat and try another route. But quicker +than a flash I was raised to the shoulders of the awaiting crowd and +walked on their heads to the counting room window, where I sold what +few papers I had as rapidly as I could hand them out. As soon as the +magnitude of the news got circulated cheer after cheer rent the air, +and cannon, anvils, firecrackers and everything that would make a +noise was brought into requisition, and before sundown St. Paul had +celebrated the greatest Fourth of July in its history. + + * * * * * + +I arrived in St. Paul on the morning of the 17th of April, 1858, and +Immediately commenced work on the Daily Minnesotian, my brother, Geo. +W. Moore, being part owner and manager of the paper. I had not been at +work long before I learned what a "scoop" was. Congress had passed +a bill admitting Minnesota into the Union, but as there was no +telegraphic communication with Washington it required two or three +days for the news to reach the state. The Pioneer, Minnesotian and +Times were morning papers, and were generally printed the evening +before. It so happened that the news of the admission of Minnesota was +brought to St. Paul by a passenger on a late boat and the editors of +the Pioneer accidentally heard of the event and published the same +on the following morning, thus scooping the other two papers. The +Minnesotian got out an extra and sent it around to their subscribers +and they thought they had executed a great stroke of enterprise. It +was not long before I became familiar with the method of obtaining +news and I was at the levee on the arrival of every boat thereafter. +I could tell every boat by its whistle, and there was no more scoops +'till the telegraph line was completed in the summer of 1860. + + * * * * * + +During the latter part of the Civil war the daily newspapers began to +expand, and have ever since kept fully abreast of the requirements of +our rapidly increasing population. The various papers were printed on +single-cylinder presses until about 1872, when double-cylinders were +introduced. In 1876 the first turtle-back press was brought to the +city, printing four pages at one time. In 1880 the different offices +introduced stereotyping, and in 1892 linotype type-setting machines +were installed. The next great advance will probably be some system of +photography that will entirely dispense with the work of the printer +and proofreader. Who knows? + + + + +THE FIVE MILLION LOAN ELECTION. + +EARLY STEAMBOATING--CELEBRATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL LAYING OF THE FIRST +ATLANTIC CABLE--A FIGHT BETWEEN THE CHIPPEWAS AND SIOUXS. + + +"Right this way for the Fuller house!" "Right this way for the Winslow +house!" "Right this way for the American house!" "Merchants hotel +on the levee!" "Stage for St. Anthony Falls!" These were the +announcements that would greet the arrival of travelers as they would +alight from one of the splendid steamers of the Galena, Dunleith, +Dubuque and Minnesota Packet company during the days when traveling +by steamboat was the only way of reaching points on the upper +Mississippi. Besides the above hotels, there was the Central house, +the Temperance house, the City hotel, Minnesota house, the Western +house, the Hotel to the Wild Hunter, whose curious sign for many years +attracted the attention of the visitor, and many others. The Merchants +is the only one left, and that only in name. Messengers from newspaper +offices, representatives of storage and commission houses, merchants +looking for consignments of goods, residents looking for friends, and +the ever alert dealers in town lots on the scent of fresh victims, +were among the crowds that daily congregated at the levee whenever the +arrival of one of the packet company's regular steamers was expected. +At one time there was a daily line of steamers to La Crosse, a daily +line to Prairie du Chien, a daily line to Dubuque and a line to St. +Louis, and three daily lines for points on the Minnesota river. +Does any one remember the deep bass whistle of the Gray Eagle, the +combination whistle on the Key City, the ear-piercing shriek of the +little Antelope, and the discordant notes of the calliope on the +Denmark? The officers of these packets were the king's of the day, and +when any one of them strayed up town he attracted as much attention as +a major general of the regulars. It was no uncommon sight to see six +or eight steamers at the levee at one time, and their appearance +presented a decided contrast to the levee of the present time. The +first boat through the lake in the spring was granted free wharfage, +and as that meant about a thousand dollars, there was always an +effort made to force a passage through the lake as soon as possible. +Traveling by steamboat during the summer months was very pleasant, +but it was like taking a trip to the Klondike to go East during the +winter. Merchants were compelled to supply themselves with enough +goods to last from November till April, as it was too expensive +to ship goods by express during the winter. Occasionally some +enterprising merchant would startle the community by announcing +through the newspapers that he had just received by Burbank's express +a new pattern in dress goods, or a few cans of fresh oysters. The +stages on most of the routes left St. Paul at 4 o'clock in the +morning, and subscribers to daily newspapers within a radius of forty +miles of the city could read the news as early as they can during +these wonderful days of steam and electricity. + + * * * * * + +Probably no election ever occurred in Minnesota that excited so much +interest as the one known as the "Five Million Loan Election." It was +not a party measure, as the leading men of both parties favored it; +although the Republicans endeavored to make a little capital out of it +at a later period. The only paper of any prominence that opposed the +passage of the amendment was the Minnesotian, edited by Dr. Thomas +Foster. That paper was very violent in its abuse of every one who +favored the passage of the law, and its opposition probably had an +opposite effect from what was intended by the redoubtable doctor. The +great panic of 1857 had had a very depressing effect on business +of every description and it was contended that the passage of this +measure would give employment to thousands of people; that the +rumbling of the locomotive would soon be heard in every corner of the +state, and that the dealer in town lots and broad acres would again be +able to complacently inform the newcomer the exact locality where a +few dollars would soon bring to the investor returns unheard of by +any ordinary methods of speculation. The campaign was short and the +amendment carried by an immense majority. So nearly unanimous was +the sentiment of the community in favor of the measure that it was +extremely hazardous for any one to express sentiments In opposition to +it. The city of St. Paul, with a population of about 10,000, gave a +majority of over 4,000 for the law. There was no Australian law +at that time, and one could vote early and often without fear of +molestation. One of the amusing features of the campaign, and in +opposition to the measure, was a cartoon drawn by R.O. Sweeney, now +a resident of Duluth. It was lithographed and widely circulated. The +newspapers had no facilities for printing cartoons at that time. They +had to be printed on a hand press and folded into the papers. It was +proposed, by the terms of this amendment to the constitution, to +donate to four different railroad companies $10,000 per mile for every +mile of road graded and ready to iron. Work Was commenced soon after +the passage of the law, and in a short time a demand was made by the +railroad companies upon Gov. Sibley for the issuance of the bonds, in +accordance with their idea of the terms of the contract made by the +state. Gov. Sibley declined to issue the bonds until the rights of +the state had been fully protected. The railroad companies would not +accept the restrictions placed upon them by the governor, and they +obtained a peremptory writ from the supreme court directing that they +be issued. The governor held that the supreme court had no authority +to coerce the executive branch of the state government, but on the +advice of the attorney general, and rather than have any friction +between the two branches of the government, he, in accordance with the +mandate of the court, reluctantly signed the bonds. Judge Flandrau +dissented from the opinion of his colleagues, and had his ideas +prevailed the state's financial reputation would have been vastly +improved. Dr. Foster did not believe Gov. Sibley was sincere in his +efforts to protect the interests of the state, and denounced him with +the same persistence he had during the campaign of the previous fall. +The doctor would never acknowledge that Gov. Sibley was the legal +governor of Minnesota, and Tie contended that he had no right to sign +the bonds: that their issuance was illegal, and that neither the +principal nor the interest would ever be paid. The Minnesotian carried +at the head of its columns the words "Official Paper of the City," and +it was feared that its malignant attacks upon the state officials, +denouncing the issuance of the bonds as fraudulent and illegal, would +be construed abroad as reflecting the sentiment of the majority of the +people in the the community in which it was printed, and would have a +bad effect in the East when the time came to negotiate the bonds. An +effort was made to induce the city council to deprive that paper of +its official patronage, but that body could not see its way clear to +abrogate its contract. Threats were made to throw the office into the +river, but they did not materialize. When Gov. Sibley endeavored +to place these bonds on the New York market he was confronted +with conditions not anticipated, and suffered disappointment and +humiliation in consequence of the failure of the attempt. The bonds +could not be negotiated. The whole railway construction scheme +suddenly collapsed, the railroad companies defaulted, the credit of +the state was compromised, "and enterprise of great pith and +moment had turned their currents awry." The evil forbodings of the +Minnesotian became literally true, and for more than twenty years +the repudiated bonds of Minnesota were a blot on the pages of her +otherwise spotless record. Nearly 250 miles of road were graded, on +which the state foreclosed and a few years later donated the same to +new organizations. During the administration of Gov. Pillsbury the +state compromised with the holders of these securities and paid 50 per +cent of their nominal value. Will she ever pay the rest? + + * * * * * + +In the latter part of May, 1858, a battle was fought near Shakopee +between the Sioux and the Chippewas. A party of Chippewa warriors, +under the command of the famous Chief Hole-in-the-day, surprised a +body of Sioux on the river bottoms near Shakopee and mercilessly +opened fire on them, killing and wounding fifteen or twenty. Eight or +ten Chippewas were killed during the engagement. The daily papers +sent reporters to the scene of the conflict and they remained in that +vicinity several days on the lookout for further engagements. Among +the reporters was John W. Sickels, a fresh young man from one of the +Eastern cities. He was attached to the Times' editorial staff and +furnished that paper with a very graphic description of the events of +the preceding days, and closed his report by saying that he was unable +to find out the "origin of the difficulty." As the Sioux and +Chippewas were hereditary enemies, his closing announcement afforded +considerable amusement to the old inhabitants. + + * * * * * + +The celebration in St. Paul in honor of the successful laying of the +Atlantic cable, which took place on the first day of September, 1858, +was one of the first as well as one of the most elaborate celebrations +that ever occurred in the city. The announcement of the completion of +the enterprise, which occurred on the 5th of the previous month, did +not reach St. Paul until two or three days later, as there was no +telegraphic communication to the city at that time. As soon as +messages had been exchanged between Queen Victoria and President +Buchanan it was considered safe to make preparations for a grand +celebration. Most of the cities throughout the United States were +making preparations to celebrate on that day, and St. Paul did not +propose to be outdone. The city council appropriated several hundred +dollars to assist in the grand jubilation and illumination. An +elaborate program was prepared and a procession that would do credit +to the city at the present time marched through the principal streets, +to the edification of thousands of spectators from the city and +surrounding country. To show that a procession in the olden time was +very similar to one of the up-to-date affairs, the following order of +procession is appended: + +THE PROCESSION. + + Escort of Light Cavalry. + Band. + Pioneer Guard. + City Guard. + City Battery. + Floral procession with escort of Mounted Cadets, + representing Queen Victoria, President Buchanan, + the different States of the Union, and + other devices. + The Governor and State Officers in carriages. + The Judges of the State in carriages. + The Clergy. + Officers of the Army. + Officers of the Navy. + The Municipal Authorities of Neighboring Cities. + The Board of Education in Carriages. + The Mayor and City Council. + Knights Templars on Horseback. + Band. + Odd Fellows. + Druids. + Typographical Corps. + Band. + Officers and Crews of Vessels in Port. + Turners. + German Reading Society. + German Singing Society. + Attaches of Postoffice Department. + Citizens in Carriages. + Citizens on Horseback. + Brewers on Horseback. + Butchers on Horseback. + +Col. AC Jones, adjutant general of the state, was marshal-in-chief, +and he was assisted by a large number of aides. The Pioneer Guards, +the oldest military company in the state, had the right of line. They +had just received their Minie rifles and bayonets, and, with the +drum-major headgear worn by military companies in those days, +presented a very imposing appearance. The Pioneer Guards were followed +by the City Guards, under Capt. John O'Gorman. A detachment of cavalry +and the City Battery completed the military part of the affair. The +fire department, under the superintendence of the late Charles H. +Williams, consisting of the Pioneer Hook and Ladder company, Minnehaha +Engine company, Hope Engine company and the Rotary Mill company was +the next in order. One of the most attractive features of the occasion +was the contribution of the Pioneer Printing company. In a large car +drawn by six black horses an attempt was made to give an idea of +printers and printing in the days of Franklin, and also several +epochs in the life of the great philosopher. In the car with the +representatives of the art preservative was Miss Azelene Allen, a +beautiful and popular young actress connected with the People's +theater, bearing in her hand a cap of liberty on a spear. She +represented the Goddess of Liberty. The car was ornamented with +flowers and the horses were decorated with the inscriptions +"Franklin," "Morse," "Field." The Pioneer book bindery was also +represented in one of the floats, and workmen, both male and female, +were employed in different branches of the business. These beautiful +floats were artistically designed by George H. Colgrave, who is +still in the service of the Pioneer Press company. One of the unique +features of the parade, and one that attracted great attention, was a +light brigade, consisting of a number of school children mounted, and +they acted as a guard of honor to the president and queen. In an open +barouche drawn by four horses were seated two juvenile representatives +of President Buchanan and Queen Victoria. The representative of +British royalty was Miss Rosa Larpenteur, daughter of A.L. Larpenteur, +and the first child born of white parents in St. Paul. James Buchanan +was represented by George Folsom, also a product of the city. Col. +R.E.J. Miles and Miss Emily Dow, the stars at the People's theater, +were in the line of march on two handsomely caparisoned horses, +dressed in Continental costume, representing George and Martha +Washington. The colonel looked like the veritable Father of His +Country. There were a number of other floats, and nearly all the +secret societies of the city were in line. The procession was nearly +two miles in length and they marched three and one-half hours before +reaching their destination. To show the difference between a line of +march at that time and one at the present day, the following is given: + +THE LINE OF MARCH. + +Up St. Anthony street to Fort street, up Fort street to Ramsey street, +then countermarch down Fort to Fourth street, down Fourth street to +Minnesota street, up Minnesota street to Seventh street, down Seventh +street to Jackson street, up Jackson street to Eighth street, down +Eighth street to Broadway, down Broadway to Seventh street, up Seventh +street to Jackson street, down Jackson street to Third street, up +Third street to Market street. + +Ex-Gov. W.A. Gorman and ex-Gov. Alex. Ramsey were the orators of the +occasion, and they delivered very lengthy addresses. It had been +arranged to have extensive fireworks in the evening, but on account of +the storm they had to be postponed until the following night. + +It was a strange coincidence that on the very day of the celebration +the last message was exchanged between England and America. The cable +had been in successful operation about four weeks and 129 messages +were received from England and 271 sent from America. In 1866 a new +company succeeded in laying the cable which is in successful +operation to-day. Four attempts were made before the enterprise was +successful--the first in 1857, the second in 1858, the third in 1863 +and the successful one in 1865. Cyrus W. Field, the projector of the +enterprise, received the unanimous thanks of congress, and would have +been knighted by Great Britain had Mr. Field thought it proper to +accept such honor. + + * * * * * + +Some time during the early '50s a secret order known as the Sons of +Malta was organized in one of the Eastern states, and its membership +increased throughout the West with as much rapidity as the Vandals and +Goths increased their numbers during the declining years of the Roman +Empire. Two or three members of the Pioneer editorial staff procured a +charter from Pittesburg in 1858 and instituted a lodge in St. Paul. +It was a grand success from the start. Merchants, lawyers, doctors, +printers, and in fact half of the male population, was soon enrolled +in the membership of the order. There was something so grand, gloomy +and peculiar about the initiation that made it certain that as soon +as one victim had run the gauntlet he would not be satisfied until +another one had been procured. When a candidate had been proposed for +membership the whole lodge acted as a committee of investigation, +and if it could be ascertained that he had ever been derelict in his +dealings with his fellow men he was sure to be charged with it when +being examined by the high priest in the secret chamber of the +order--that is, the candidate supposed he was in a secret chamber from +the manner in which he had to be questioned, but when the hood had +been removed from his face he found, much to his mortification, that +his confession had been made to the full membership of the order. +Occasionally the candidate would confess to having been more of a +transgresser than his questioners had anticipated. + +The following is a sample of the questions asked a candidate for +admission: Grand Commander to candidate, "Are you in favor of +the acquisition of the Island of Cuba?" Candidate, "I am." Grand +Commander, "In case of an invasion of the island, would you lie awake +nights and steal into the enemy's camp?" Candidate, "I would." Grand +Commander, "Let it be recorded, he will lie and steal," and then an +immense gong at the far end of the hall would be sounded and the +candidate would imagine that the day of judgment had come. The scheme +of bouncing candidates into the air from a rubber blanket, so popular +during the days of the recent ice carnivals was said to have been +original with the Sons of Malta, and was one of the mildest of the +many atrocities perpetrated by this most noble order. + +Some time during the summer a large excursion party of members of the +order from Cincinnati, Chicago and Milwaukee visited St. Paul. +Among the number was the celebrated elocutionist, Alf. Burnett of +Cincinnati, and Gov. Alexander Randall of Wisconsin. They arrived at +the lower levee about midnight and marched up Third street to the hall +of the order, where a grand banquet was awaiting them. The visitors +were arrayed in long, black robes, with a black hood over their heads, +and looked more like the prisoners in the play of "Lucretia Borgia" +than members of modern civilization. + +On the following day there was an immense barbecue at Minnehaha +Falls, when the visitors were feasted with an ox roasted whole. This +organization kept on increasing in membership, until in an evil hour +one of the members had succeeded in inducing the Rev. John Penman +to consent to become one of its members. Mr. Penman was so highly +Indignant at the manner in which he had been handled during the +initiation that he immediately wrote an expose of the secret work, +with numerous illustrations, and had it published in Harper's Weekly. +The exposition acted like a bombshell in the camp of the Philistines, +and ever after Empire hall, the headquarters of the order, presented +a dark and gloomy appearance. The reverend gentleman was judge of +probate of Ramsey county at the time, but his popularity suddenly +diminished and when his term of office expired he found it to his +advantage to locate in a more congenial atmosphere. + + * * * * * + +The Minnesotian and Times, although both Republican papers, never +cherished much love for each other. The ravings of the Eatanswill +Gazette were mild in comparison to the epithets used by these little +papers in describing the shortcomings of their "vile and reptile +contemporary." After the election in 1859, as soon as it was known +that the Republicans had secured a majority in the legislature, the +managers of these rival Republican offices instituted a very lively +campaign for the office of state printer. Both papers had worked hard +for the success of the Republican ticket and they had equal claims +on the party for recognition. Both offices were badly in need of +financial assistance, and had the Republican party not been successful +one of them, and perhaps both, would have been compelled to suspend. +How to divide the patronage satisfactorily to both papers was the +problem that confronted the legislature about to assemble. The war of +words between Foster and Newson continued with unabated ferocity. The +editor of the Minnesotian would refer to the editor of the Times +as "Mr. Timothy Muggins Newson"--his right name being Thomas M. +Newson--and the Times would frequently mention Dr. Foster as the +"red-nosed, goggle-eyed editor of the Minnesotian." To effect a +reconciliation between these two editors required the best diplomatic +talent of the party leaders. After frequent consultations between the +leading men of the party and the managers of the two offices, it was +arranged that the papers should be consolidated and the name of the +paper should be the Minnesotian and Times. It can readily be seen +that a marriage contracted under these peculiar circumstances was +not likely to produce a prolonged state of connubial felicity. The +relations between Foster and Newson were no more cordial under one +management than had hitherto existed when the offices were separate. +This unhappy situation continued until about the time the legislature +adjourned, when the partnership was dissolved. Dr. Foster assumed +entire control of the Minnesotian and Maj. Newson was manager of +the Times. George W. Moore was associated with Dr. Foster in the +publication of the Minnesotian prior to the consolidation, but when +the offices separated it was stipulated that Mr. Moore should have the +printing of the Journals of the two houses of the legislature as part +payment of his share of the business of the late firm of Newson, +Moore, Foster & Co., thus entirely severing his relations with the +paper he helped to found. After the arrangement was made it was with +the greatest difficulty that it was carried into effect, as Orville +Brown of Faribault had entered the field as a candidate for state +printer and came within a few votes of taking the printing to that +village. The Times continued under the management of Mr. Newson until +the first of January, 1861, when he leased the office to W.R. Marshall +and Thomas F. Slaughter, who started the St. Paul Daily Press with +its material. The Press proved to be too much of a competitor for the +Minnesotian, and in a short time Dr. Foster was compelled to surrender +to its enterprising projectors, they having purchased the entire +plant. This ended the rivalry between the two Republican dailies. Dr. +Foster and Maj. Newson, some time afterward, received commissions in +the volunteer service of the army during the Civil war, and George W. +Moore was appointed collector of the port of St. Paul, a position he +held for more than twenty years. + + * * * * * + +Does any one remember that St. Paul had a paper called the Daily North +Star? The historians of St. Paul and Ramsey county do not seem to ever +have chronicled the existence of this sprightly little sheet. During +the presidential campaign of 1860 we had two kinds of Democrats--the +Douglas and the Breckinridge or administration Democrats. There +were only two papers in the state that espoused the cause of +Mr. Breckinridge--the Chatfield Democrat and the Henderson +Independent--and as they had been designated by the president to +publish such portion of the acts of congress as it was customary +to print at that time, it was quite natural that they carried the +administration colors at the head of their columns. They were called +"bread and butter papers." The supporters of Mr. Breckinridge thought +their cause would present a more respectable appearance if they had an +organ at the capital of the state. Accordingly the late H.H. Young, +the editor of the Henderson Independent, was brought down from that +village and the Daily North Star soon made its appearance. It was not +necessary at that time to procure the Associated Press dispatches, a +perfecting press and linotype machines before embarking in a daily +newspaper enterprise, as a Washington hand press and five or six +cases of type were all that were necessary. This paper was published +regularly until after election, and as the returns indicated that the +officeholders would not much longer contribute toward its support it +soon collapsed. + +St. Paul had another paper that is very seldom mentioned in newspaper +history. It was called the St. Paul Weekly Journal, and was edited by +Dr. Massey, formerly of the Ohio Statesman and private secretary to +Gov. Sam Medary. This paper was started in 1862, but on account of its +violent opposition to the prosecution of the war did not meet with +much favor, and only existed about eight months. + + * * * * * + +Some time during the year 1858 the Minnesotian office received about +half a dozen cases of very bad whisky in payment of a very bad debt. +They could not sell it--they could not even give it to any one. +Occasionally the thirst of an old-time compositor would get the +better of him and he would uncork a bottle. The experiment was never +repeated. Think of half a dozen cases of whisky remaining unmolested +in a printing office for more than two years. During the campaign +of 1860 the Wide Awakes and the Little Giants were the uniformed +political organizations intended to attract the attention of voters. +One dreary night one of the attaches of the Minnesotian office, and an +active member of the Wide Awakes, met the Little Giants near Bridge +Square as they were returning to their hall after a long march. +In order to establish a sort of entente cordiale between the two +organisations the Little Giants were invited over to the Minnesotian +office in hopes they would be able to reduce the supply of this +nauseating beverage. It was a golden opportunity. The invitation was +readily accepted, and in a short time fifty ardent followers of the +advocate of squatter sovereignty were lined up in front of a black +Republican office, thirsting for black Republican whisky. Bottle after +bottle, was passed down the line, and as it gurgled down the throats +of these enthusiastic marchers they smacked their lips with as much +gusto as did Rip Van Winkle when partaking of the soporific potation +that produced his twenty years' sleep. One of the cardinal principles +of the Democracy, at that time was to "love rum and hate niggers." As +the entire stock was disposed of before the club resumed its line of +march, the host of the occasion concluded that at least one plank of +their platform was rigidly adhered to. + + + + +THE GREAT SIOUX OUTBREAK IN 1862. + +NARRATION OF SOME OF THE EXCITING EVENTS THAT OCCURRED DURING THE +GREAT SIOUX OUTBREAK IN 1862--FORT RIDGELY, NEW ULM AND BIRCH +COULIE--OTHER DAY AND WABASHA--GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ST. PAUL. + + +In July and August, 1862, President Lincoln issued proclamations +calling for the enlistment of 600,000 volunteers for the purpose of +reinforcing the army, then vainly endeavoring to suppress the Southern +rebellion. It was probably one of the most gloomy periods in the +history of the Civil war. McClellan had been compelled to make a +precipitous and disastrous retreat from the vicinity of Richmond; +the army of Northern Virginia under Pope had met with several severe +reverses; the armies in the West under Grant, Buell and Curtis had not +been able to make any progress toward the heart of the Confederacy; +rebel marauders under Morgan were spreading desolation and ruin in +Kentucky and Ohio; rebel privateers were daily eluding the vigilant +watch of the navy and escaping to Europe with loads of cotton, which +they readily disposed of and returned with arms and ammunition to aid +in the prosecution of their cause. France was preparing to invade +Mexico with a large army for the purpose of forcing the establishment +of a monarchical form of government upon the people of our sister +republic; the sympathies of all the great powers of Europe, save +Russia, were plainly manifested by outspoken utterances favorable to +the success of the Confederate cause; rumors of foreign intervention +in behalf of the South were daily circulated; the enemies of the +government in the North were especially active in their efforts +to prevent the enlistment of men under the call of the president; +conspiracies for burning Northern cities had been unearthed by +government detectives, and emissaries from the South were endeavoring +to spread disease and pestilence throughout the loyal North. It was +during this critical period in the great struggle for the suppression +of the Rebellion that one of the most fiendish atrocities in the +history of Indian warfare was enacted on the western boundaries of +Minnesota. + + * * * * * + +It can readily be seen that the government was illy prepared to cope +with an outbreak of such magnitude as this soon proved to be. By the +terms of the treaty of Traverse des Sioux and Mendota in 1851 the +Sioux sold all their lands in Minnesota, except a strip ten miles wide +on each side of the Minnesota river from near Fort Ridgely to Big +Stone lake. In 1858 ten miles of the strip lying north of the river +was sold, mainly through the influence of Little Crow. The selling of +this strip caused great dissatisfaction among the Indians and Little +Crow was severely denounced for the part he took in the transaction. +The sale rendered it necessary for all the Indians to locate on the +south side of the Minnesota, where game was scarce and trapping poor. +There was nothing for them to live upon unless they adopted the habits +of civilization and worked like white men. This was very distasteful +to many of them, as they wanted to live the same as they did before +the treaty--go where they pleased, when they pleased, and hunt game +and sell fur to traders. The government built houses for those who +desired to occupy them, furnished tools, seed, etc., and taught them +how to farm. At two of the agencies during the summer of the outbreak +they had several hundred acres of land under cultivation. The +disinclination of many of the Indians to work gradually produced +dissension among themselves and they formed into two parties--the +white man's party, those that believed in cultivating the soil; and +the Indian party, a sort of young-man-afraid-of-work association, who +believed it beneath the dignity of the noble Dakotan to perform +manual labor. The white man's, or farmer's party, was favored by the +government, some of them having fine houses built for them. The other +Indians did not like this, and became envious of them because they +discontinued the customs of the tribe. There was even said to have +been a secret organization among the tepee Indians whose object it was +to declare war upon the whites. The Indians also claimed that they +were not fairly dealt with by the traders; that they had to rely +entirely upon their word for their indebtedness to them; that they +were ignorant of any method of keeping accounts, and that when the +paymaster came the traders generally took all that was coming, and +often leaving many of them in debt. They protested against permitting +the traders to sit at the pay table of the government paymaster and +deduct from their small annuities the amount due them. They had at +least one white man's idea--they wanted to pay their debts when they +got ready. + + * * * * * + +For several weeks previous to the outbreak the Indians came to the +agencies to get their money. Day after day and week after week passed +and there was no sign of paymasters. The year 1862 was the the second +year of the great Rebellion, and as the government officers had been +taxed to their utmost to provide funds for the prosecution of the war, +it looked as though they had neglected their wards in Minnesota. Many +of the Indians who had gathered about the agencies were out of money +and their families were suffering. The Indians were told that on +account of the great war in which the government was engaged the +payment would never be made. Their annuities were payable in gold and +they were told that the great father had no gold to pay them with. +Maj. Galbraith, the agent of the Sioux, had organized a company to go +South, composed mostly of half-breeds, and this led the Indians to +believe that now would be the time to go to war with the whites and +get their land back. It was believed that the men who had enlisted +last had all left the state and that before, help could be sent they +could clear the country of the whites, and that the Winnebagos and +Chippewas would come to their assistance. It is known that the Sioux +had been in communication with Hole-in-the-Day, the Chippewa chief, +but the outbreak was probably precipitated before they came to an +understanding. It was even said at the time that the Confederate +government had emissaries among them, but the Indians deny this report +and no evidence has ever been collected proving its truthfulness. + + * * * * * + +Under the call of the president for 600,000 men Minnesota was called +upon to furnish five regiments--the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth +and Tenth--and the requisition had been partially filled and the men +mustered in when the news reached St. Paul that open hostilities had +commenced at the upper agency, and an indiscriminate massacre of the +whites was taking place. + + * * * * * + +The people of Minnesota had been congratulating themselves that +they were far removed from the horrors of the Civil war, and their +indignation knew no bounds when compelled to realize that these +treacherous redskins, who had been nursed and petted by officers +of the government, and by missionaries and traders for years, had, +without a moment's warning, commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of +men, women and children. It was a singular fact that farmer Indians, +whom the government officers and missionaries had tried so hard +to civilize, were guilty of the most terrible butcheries after +hostilities had actually commenced. + + * * * * * + +A few days previous to the attack upon the whites at the upper agency +a portion of the band of Little Six appeared at Action, Meeker county. +There they murdered several people and then fled to Redwood. It was +the first step in the great massacre that soon followed. On the +morning of the 18th of August, without a word of warning, an +indiscriminate massacre was inaugurated. A detachment of Company B of +the Fifth regiment, under command of Capt. Marsh, went to the scene +of the revolt, but they were ambushed and about twenty-five of their +number, including the captain, killed. The horrible work of murder, +pillage and destruction was spread throughout the entire Sioux +reservation, and whole families, especially those in isolated portions +of the country, were an easy prey to these fiendish warriors. + + * * * * * + +The Wyoming massacre during the Revolution and the Black Hawk and +Seminole wars at a later period, pale into insignificance when +compared to the great outrages committed by these demons during this +terrible outbreak. In less than one week 1,000 people had been killed, +several million dollars' worth of property destroyed and 30,000 people +rendered homeless. The entire country from Fort Ripley to the southern +boundary of the state, reaching almost to the mouth of the Minnesota +river, had been in a twinkling depopulated. How to repel these +invaders and drive them back to their reservations and out of the +state as they had forfeited all rights to the land they had occupied, +was the problem that suddenly confronted both the state and national +authorities. + + * * * * * + +Shortly after the news of the outbreak at Redwood had been received, +word was sent from Fort Ripley to the effect that the Chippewas were +assuming a warlike attitude, and it was feared that the Sioux and +Chippewas--hereditary enemies--had buried the hatchet, or had been +influenced by other causes, and were ready to co-operate in an +indiscriminate massacre of the whites. Indian Agent Walker undertook +to arrest the famous chief Hole-in-the-day, but that wily warrior had +scented danger and suddenly disappeared, with his entire band, which +caused grave apprehension among the settlers in that locality, and +they were in daily dread of an attack from these hitherto peaceable +tribes. + + * * * * * + +The suddenness with which the outbreak had occurred and the +extraordinary rapidity with which it spread, driving the defenseless +settlers from their homes and causing desolation and ruin on every +side, rendered it necessary for the governor to call an extra session +of the legislature for the purpose of devising means to arm and equip +volunteers, and assist the homeless refugees in procuring places of +shelter where they would be safe from molestation by these dusky +warriors. Could anything be more terrible than Gov. Ramsey's picture +of the ravages of these outlaws in his message to the legislature? +"Nothing which the brutal lust and wanton cruelty of these savages +could wreak upon their helpless and innocent victims was omitted from +the category of their crimes," said the governor. "Helplessness and +innocence, indeed, which would inspire pity in any heart but theirs, +seemed to inspire them only with a more fiendish rage. Infants hewn +into bloody chips of flesh or torn untimely from the womb of the +murdered mother, and in cruel mockery cast in fragments on her +pulseless and bleeding breast; rape joined to murder in one awful +tragedy; young girls, even children of tender years, outraged by +these brutal ravishers till death ended their shame; women held into +captivity to undergo the horrors of a living death; whole families +burned alive; and, as if their devilish fancy could not glut itself +with outrages on the living, the last efforts exhausted in mutilating +the bodies of the dead. Such are the spectacles, and a thousand +nameless horrors besides which this first experience of Indian +warfare has burned into the minds and hearts of our frontier people; +and such the enemy with whom we have to deal." + + * * * * * + +The old saying that the only good Indians are dead ones had a noble +exception in the person of Other Day, who piloted sixty-two men, +women and children across the country from below Yellow Medicine to +Kandiyohi, and from there to Hutchinson, Glencoe and Carver. Other Day +was an educated Indian and had been rather wild in his younger days, +but experienced a change of heart about four years before the outbreak +and had adopted the habits of civilization. Other Day arrived in St. +Paul a few days after he had piloted his party in safety to Carver, +and in the course of a few remarks to a large audience at Ingersoll +hall, which had assembled for the purpose of organizing a company of +home guards, he said: "I am a Dakota Indian, born and reared in the +midst of evil. I grew up without the knowledge of any good thing. I +have been instructed by Americans and taught to read and write. This +I found to be good. I became acquainted with the Sacred Writings, and +thus learned my vileness. At the present time I have fallen into great +evil and affliction, but have escaped from it, and with sixty-two men, +women and children, without moccasins, without food and without a +blanket, I have arrived in the midst of a great people, and now my +heart is glad. I attribute it to the mercy of the Great Spirit." Other +Day had been a member of the church for several years and his religion +taught him that the Great Spirit approved his conduct. + + * * * * * + +It was apparent that the Indian war was on in earnest. Ex-Gov. Sibley, +on account of his long familiarity with Indian character, was placed +in command of the troops ordered to assemble at St. Peter, and in +a few days, with detachments of the regiments then forming, +half-uniformed, poorly armed and with a scant supply of ammunition, +commenced offensive operations against the murderous redskins. The +newspapers and the people were crying "On to Ridgely!" which was then +beleaguered, with the same persistency as did Horace Greeyley howl "On +to Richmond!" previous to the disaster at Bull Run. + + * * * * * + +Any one who has seen the thrilling realistic Indian play of "The Girl +I Left Behind Me" can form some idea of the terrible suspense of the +little garrison at Port Ridgely previous to being relieved by the +forces under command of Gen. Sibley. Fort Ridgely was a fort only +in name, and consisted of two or three stone and several wooden +buildings, surrounded by a fence, which did not afford much protection +when attacked by a large force. The garrison was under the command of +Lieut. T.J. Sheehan. His force consisted of about 150 men from the +Fifth regiment, fifty men of the Renville Rangers, and a number of +civilians. He was surrounded by 700 or 800 Sioux, fully armed and +equipped. Although there were only two attempts made to capture the +garrison by assault, yet the siege was kept up for several days. In +addition to about 300 refugees who had gathered there for support +and protection, the $72,000 of annuity money, which had been so long +expected, arrived there the day before the outbreak. After bravely +defending the fort for more than a week, the little garrison was +relieved by the arrival of about 200 mounted volunteers under command +of Col. McPhail, being the advance of Gen. Sibley's command. During +the siege many of the men became short of musketry ammunition, and +spherical case shot were opened in the barracks and women worked with +busy hands making cartridges, while men cut nail rods in short pieces +and used them as bullets, their dismal whistling producing terror +among the redskins. + +Almost simultaneously with the attack on Fort Ridgely the Indians in +large numbers appeared in the vicinity of New Ulm, with the evident +intention of burning and pillaging the village. Judge Charles E. +Flandrau of this city, who was then residing at St. Peter, organized a +company of volunteers and marched across the country to the relief of +that place. The judge received several acquisitions to his force while +en route, and when he arrived at New Ulm found himself in command of +about 300 men, poorly armed and wholly without military experience. +They arrived at New Ulm just in time to assist the inhabitants in +driving the Indians from the upper part of the village, several +citizens having been killed and a number of houses burned. Two or +three days afterward the Indians appeared in large force, surrounded +the town and commenced burning the buildings on its outskirts. After +a desperate encounter, in which the force under command of Judge +Flandrau lost ten killed and about forty wounded, the Indians retired. +There were in the village at the time of the attack about 1,200 or +1,500 noncombatants, and every one of them would have been killed had +the Indian attack been successful. Provisions and ammunition becoming +scarce, the judge decided to evacuate the town and march across the +country to Mankato. They made up a train of about 150 wagons, loaded +them with women and children and the men who had been wounded in the +fight, and arrived safely in Mankato without being molested. Nearly +two hundred houses were burned before the town was evacuated, leaving +nothing standing but a few houses inside the hastily constructed +barricade. The long procession of families leaving their desolated +homes, many of them never to return, formed one of the saddest scenes +in the history of the outbreak, and will ever be remembered by the +gallant force under the command of Judge Flandrau, who led them to a +place of safety. + + * * * * * + +As soon as Gen. Sibley arrived at Fort Ridgely a detail of Company A +of the Sixth regiment, under command of Capt. H.P. Grant of St. Paul, +and seventy members of the Cullen Guards, under the command of Capt. +Jo Anderson, also of St. Paul, and several citizen volunteers, +all under the command of Maj. Joseph R. Brown, was sent out with +instructions to bury the dead and rescue the wounded, if any could +be found, from their perilous surroundings. They were St. Paul +organizations and most all of their members were St. Paul boys. They +never had had an opportunity to drill and most of them were not +familiar with the use of firearms. After marching for two days, during +which time they interred a large number of victims of the savage +Sioux, they went into camp at Birch Coulie, about fifteen miles from +Fort Ridgely. The encampment was on the prairie near a fringe of +timber and the coulie on one side and an elevation of about ten feet +on the other. It was a beautiful but very unfortunate location for the +command to camp, and would probably not have been selected had it been +known that they were surrounded by 400 or 500 hostile warriors. Maj. +Brown had about one hundred and fifty men under his command. About 4 +o'clock on the following morning the Indians, to the number of 500 or +600, well armed and most of them mounted, commenced an indiscriminate +fire upon the almost helpless little command. For two days they +bravely defended themselves, and when relief finally arrived it was +found that about half their number had been killed or wounded. When +the news of the disaster reached St. Paul there was great excitement. +Relatives and friends of the dead and wounded were outspoken in +their denunciation of the civil and military authorities who were +responsible for this great sacrifice of the lives of our citizens. It +was feared that the city itself was in danger of an attack from the +savages. Home guards were organized and the bluffs commanding a view +of the city were nightly patrolled by citizen volunteers. There was no +telegraph at that time and rumors of all sorts were flying thick +and fast. Every courier reaching the city would bring news of fresh +outrages, and our panic-stricken citizens had hardly time to recover +from the effect of one disaster before the news of another would be +received. Settlers fleeing from their homes for places of safety were +arriving by the score, leaving crops to perish in the field and their +houses to be destroyed. The situation was appalling, and many of our +citizens were predicting the most direful results should the army fail +to check the savage hordes in their work of devastation and ruin. + +Every boat from the Minnesota river would be crowded with refugees, +and the people of St. Paul were often called upon to assist in +forwarding them to their place of destination. + +Home guards were organized in almost every village of the threatened +portion of the state, but the authorities could not furnish arms +or ammunition and their services would have been of little account +against the well-armed savages in case they had been attacked. + +Advertisements appeared in the St. Paul newspapers offering rewards of +$25 a piece for Sioux scalps. + + * * * * * + +Gov. Ramsey endeavored to allay the apprehensions of the people and +published in the papers a statement to the effect that the residents +of the Capital City need not be alarmed, as the nearest approach of +the Indians was at Acton, Meeker county, 80 miles away; Fort Ripley, +150 miles away, and the scenes of the tragedy in Yellow Medicine +county, 210 miles distant. This may have been gratifying to the +residents of the Capital City, but was far from reassuring to the +frontiersmen who were compelled to abandon their homes and were +seeking the protection of the slowly advancing militia. + + * * * * * + +About 12 o'clock one night during the latter part of August a report +was circulated over the northern and western portion of St. Paul that +the savages were near the city, and many women and children were +aroused from their slumber and hastily dressed and sought the +protection of the city authorities. It was an exciting but rather +amusing episode in the great tragedy then taking place on the +frontier. Rumors of this character were often circulated, and it was +not until after the battle of Wood Lake that the people of St. Paul +felt that they were perfectly safe from raids by the hostile Sioux. + + * * * * * + +As soon as Gen. Sibley had collected a sufficient force to enable +him to move with safety he decided upon offensive operations. He had +collected about 2,000 men from the regiments then forming, including +the Third regiment, recently paroled, and a battery under command of +Capt. Mark Hendricks. The expedition marched for two or three days +without encountering opposition, but on the morning of the 23d of +September several foraging parties belonging to the Third regiment +were fired upon in the vicinity of Wood Lake. About 800 of the command +were engaged in the encounter and were opposed by about an equal +number of Indians. After a spirited engagement Col. Marshall, with +about 400 men, made a double-quick charge upon the Sioux and succeeded +in utterly routing them. Our loss was four killed and forty or fifty +wounded. This was the only real battle of the war. Other Day was with +the whites and took a conspicuous part in the encounter. After +the battle Gen. Pope, who was in command of the department of the +Northwest, telegraphed the war department that the Indian war was +over and asked what disposition to make of the troops then under his +command. This request of Gen. Pope was met with a decided remonstrance +by the people of Minnesota, and they succeeded in preventing the +removal of any of the troops until they had made two long marches +through the Dakotas and to Montana. Gen. Sibley's command reached Camp +Release on the 26th of September, in the vicinity of which was +located a large camp of Indians, most of whom had been engaged in the +massacres. They had with them about two hundred and fifty mixed bloods +and white women and children, and the soldiers were very anxious to +precede at once to their rescue. Gen. Sibley was of the opinion that +any hostile demonstration would mean the annihilation of all the +prisoners, and therefore proceeded with the utmost caution. After a +few preliminary consultations the entire camp surrendered and the +captives were released. As soon as possible Gen. Sibley made inquiries +as to the participation of these Indians in the terrible crimes +recently perpetrated, and it soon developed that a large number of +them had been guilty of the grossest atrocities. The general decided +to form a military tribunal and try the offenders. After a series of +sittings, lasting from the 30th of September to the 5th of November, +321 of the fiends were found guilty of the offenses charged, 303 of +whom were sentenced to death and the rest condemned to various terms +of imprisonment according to their crimes. All of the condemned +prisoners were taken to Mankato and were confined in a large jail +constructed for the purpose. After the court-martial had completed +its work and the news of its action had reached the Eastern cities, +a great outcry was made that Minnesota was contemplating a wholesale +slaughter of the beloved red man. The Quakers of Philadelphia and the +good people of Massachusetts sent many remonstrances to the president +to put a stop to the proposed wholesale execution. The president, +after consulting his military advisers, decided to permit the +execution of only thirty-eight of the most flagrant cases, and +accordingly directed them to be hung on the 26th of December, 1862. + + * * * * * + +Previous to their execution the condemned prisoners were interviewed +by Rev. S.R. Riggs, to whom they made their dying confessions. Nearly +every one of them claimed to be innocent of the crimes charged to +them. Each one had some word to send to his parents or family, and +when speaking of their wives and children almost every one was +affected to tears. Most of them spoke confidently of their hope of +salvation, and expected to go at once to the abode of the Great +Spirit. Rattling Runner, who was a son-in-law of Wabasha, dictated the +following letter, which is a sample of the confessions made to Dr. +Riggs: "Wabasha, you have deceived me. You told me if we followed the +advice of Gen. Sibley and gave ourselves up, all would be well--no +innocent man would be injured. I have not killed or injured a white +man or any white person. I have not participated in the plunder of +their property; and yet to-day I am set apart for execution and must +die, while men who are guilty will remain in prison. My wife is your +daughter, my children are your grandchildren. I leave them all in your +care and under your protection. Do not let them suffer, and when they +are grown up let them know that their father died because he followed +the advice of his chief, and without having the blood of a white man +to answer for to the Holy Spirit. My wife and children are dear to me. +Let them not grieve for me; let them remember that the brave should be +prepared to meet death, and I will do as becomes a Dakotah." + +Wabasha was a Sioux chief, and although he was not found guilty of +participating in any of the massacres of women and children, he was +probably in all the most important battles. Wabasha county, and +Wabasha street in St. Paul were named after his father. + +After the execution the bodies were taken down, loaded into wagons and +carried down to a sandbar in front of the city, where they were all +dumped into the same hole. They did not remain there long, but were +spirited away by students and others familiar with the use of a +dissecting knife. + +Little Crow, the chief instigator of the insurrection was not with the +number that surrendered, but escaped and was afterward killed by a +farmer named Lamson, in the vicinity of Hutchinson. His scalp is now +in the state historical society. Little Crow was born in Kaposia, a +few miles below St. Paul, and was always known as a bad Indian. Little +Crow's father was friendly to the whites, and it was his dying wish +that his son should assume the habits of civilized life and accustom +himself to the new order of things, but the dying admonitions of the +old man were of little avail and Little Crow soon became a dissolute, +quarrelsome and dangerous Indian. He was opposed to all change of +dress and habits of life, and was very unfriendly to missionaries and +teachers. He was seldom known to tell the truth and possessed very few +redeeming qualities. Although greatly disliked by many of the Indians, +he was the acknowledged head of the war party and by common consent +assumed the direction of all the hostile tribes in their fruitless +struggle against the whites. + + * * * * * + +Between the conviction and execution of the condemned Indians there +was great excitement throughout the Minnesota valley lest the +president should pardon the condemned. Meetings were held throughout +the valley and organizations were springing into existence for the +purpose of overpowering the strong guard at Mankato and wreaking +summary justice upon the Indians. The situation became so serious +pending the decision of the president that the governor was compelled +to issue a proclamation calling upon all good citizens not to tarnish +the fair name of the state by an act of lawlessness that the outside +world would never forget, however great was the provocation. When +the final order came to execute only thirty-eight there was great +disappointment. Petitions were circulated in St. Paul and generally +signed favoring the removal of the condemned Indians to Massachusetts +to place them under the refining influence of the constituents of +Senator Hoar, the same people who are now so terribly shocked because +a humane government is endeavoring to prevent, in the Philippines, a +repetition of the terrible atrocities committed in Minnesota. + + * * * * * + +The balance of the condemned were kept in close confinement till +spring, when they were taken to Davenport, and afterward to some point +on the Missouri river, where a beneficent government kindly permitted +them to sow the seed of discontent that finally culminated in the +Custer massacre. When it was known that the balance of the condemned +Indians were to be transported to Davenport by steamer. St. Paul +people made preparations to give them a warm reception as they passed +down the river, but their intentions were frustrated by the government +officers in charge of their removal, as they arranged to have the +steamer Favorite, on which they were to be transported, pass by the +city in the middle of the night. St. Paul people were highly indignant +when apprised of their escape. + +Little Six and Medicine Bottle, two Sioux chiefs engaged in the +outbreak, were arrested at Fort Gary (Winnipeg), and delivered at +Pembina in January, 1864, and were afterward taken to Fort Snelling, +where they were tried, condemned and executed in the presence of +10,000 people, being the last of the Indians to receive capital +punishment for their great crimes. Little Six confessed to having +murdered fifty white men, women and children. + + * * * * * + +One of the most perplexing problems the military authorities had to +contend with was the transportation of supplies to the troops on the +frontier. There were, of course, no railroads, and the only way to +transport provisions was by wagon. An order was issued by the military +authorities requesting the tender of men and teams for this purpose, +but the owners of draft horses did not respond with sufficient +alacrity to supply the pressing necessities of the army, and it +was necessary for the authorities to issue another order forcibly +impressing into service of the government any and all teams that could +be found on the streets or in stables. A detachment of Company K of +the Eighth regiment was sent down from the fort and remained in the +city several days on that especial duty. As soon as the farmers heard +that the government was taking possession of everything that came over +the bridge they ceased hauling their produce to the city and carried +it to Hastings. There was one silver-haired farmer living near the +city limits by the name of Hilks, whose sympathies were entirely with +the South, and he had boasted that all of Uncle Sam's hirelings could +not locate his team. One of the members of Company K was a former +neighbor of the disloyal farmer, and he made it his particular duty +to see that this team, at least, should be loyal to the government. A +close watch was kept on him, and one morning he was seen to drive down +to the west side of the bridge and tie his team behind a house, where +he thought they would be safe until he returned. As soon as the old +man passed over the bridge the squad took possession of his horses, +and when he returned the team was on the way to Abercrombie laden +with supplies for the troops at the fort. Of course the government +subsequently reimbursed the owners of the teams for their use, but in +this particular case the soldiers did not think the owner deserved it. + +Gov. Ramsey's carriage team was early taken possession of by the +military squad, and when the driver gravely informed the officer in +charge that the governor was the owner of that team and he thought it +exempt from military duty, he was suavely informed that a power +higher than the governor required that team and that it must go to +Abercrombie. And it did. + + * * * * * + +It was necessary to send out a large escort with these supply trains +and It was easier to procure men for that purpose than it was for the +regular term of enlistment. On one of the trains that left St. Paul +was a young man by the name of Hines. He was as brave as Julius +Caesar. He said so himself. He was so heavily loaded with various +weapons of destruction that his companions called him a walking +arsenal. If Little Crow had attacked this particular train the Indian +war would have ended. This young man had been so very demonstrative of +his ability to cope with the entire Sioux force that his companions +resolved to test his bravery. One night when the train was camped +about half way between St. Cloud and Sauk Center, several of the +guards attached to the train painted their faces, arrayed themselves +in Indian costume and charged through the camp, yelling the Indian war +hoop and firing guns in every direction. Young Hines was the first to +hear the alarm, and didn't stop running until he reached St. Cloud, +spreading the news in every direction that the entire tribe of +Little Crow was only a short distance behind. Of course there was +consternation along the line of this young man's masterly retreat, +and it was some time before the panic-stricken citizens knew what had +actually happened. + + * * * * * + +In response to the appeal of Gov. Sibley and other officers on the +frontier, the ladies of St. Paul early organized for the purpose of +furnishing sick and wounded soldiers with such supplies as were not +obtainable through the regular channels of the then crude condition of +the various hospitals. Notices like the following often appeared in +the daily papers at that time: "Ladies Aid Society--A meeting of the +ladies' aid society for the purpose of sewing for the relief of the +wounded soldiers at our forts, and also for the assistance of the +destitute refugees now thronging our city, is called to meet this +morning at Ingersoll hall. All ladies interested in this object are +earnestly invited to attend. All contributions of either money or +clothing will be thankfully received. By order of the president, + +"Mrs. Stella Selby. + +"Miss M.O. Holyoke, Secretary." + +Mrs. Selby was the wife of John W. Selby, one of the first residents +of the city, Miss Holyoke was the Clara Barton of Minnesota, devoting +her whole time and energy to the work of collecting sanitary supplies +for the needy soldiers in the hospitals. + +Scores of poor soldiers who were languishing in hospital tents on +the sunburnt and treeless prairies of the Dakotas, or suffering from +disease contracted in the miasmatic swamps of the rebellious South +have had their hearts gladdened and their bodies strengthened by being +supplied with the delicacies collected through the efforts of +the noble and patriotic ladies of this and kindred organizations +throughout the state. + +Many instances are recorded of farmers leaving their harvesters in the +field and joining the grand army then forming for the defense of the +imperilled state and nation, while their courageous and energetic +wives have gone to the fields and finished harvesting the ripened +crops. + + * * * * * + +By reason of the outbreak the Sioux forfeited to the government, in +addition to an annual annuity of $68,000 for fifty years, all the +lands they held in Minnesota, amounting in the aggregate to about +750,000 acres, worth at the present time something like $15,000,000. +Had they behaved themselves and remained In possession of this immense +tract of land, they would have been worth twice as much per capita as +any community in the United States. + + + + +FIREMEN AND FIRES OF PIONEER DAYS. + +A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ST. PAUL, FIRE DEPARTMENT--PIONEER HOOK AND +LADDER COMPANY--HOPE ENGINE COMPANY AND MINNEHAHA ENGINE COMPANY--A +LARGE NUMBER OF HOTEL FIRES. + + +WHEN WE RAN WITH THE OLD MACHINE. + + * * * * * + + Brave relics of the past are we, + Old firemen, staunch and true, + We're thinking now of days gone by + And all that we've gone through. + Thro' fire and flames we've made our way, + And danger we have seen; + We never can forget the time + When we ran with the old machine. + + In numbers now we are but few, + A host have pased away, + But still we're happy, light and free, + Our spirits never decay + We often sigh for those old days + Whose memory we keep green, + Oh! there was joy for man and boy, + When we ran with the old machine. + --Gus Wiliams. + + * * * * * + +Instruments for extinguishing fires were introduced in various parts +of Europe more than three hundred years ago. The fire laddies of that +period would probably look aghast if they could see the implements +in use at the present time. One of the old time machines is said to +consist of a huge tank of water placed upon wheels, drawn by a large +number of men, and to which was attached a small hose. When the water +in the tank became exhausted it was supplied by a bucket brigade, +something on the plan in use at the present time in villages not able +to support an engine. + +The oldest record of a fire engine in Paris was one used in the king's +library in 1684, which, having but one cylinder, threw water to a +great height, a result obtained by the use of an air chamber. Leather +hose was introduced into Amsterdam in 1670, by two Dutchmen, and they +also invented the suction pipe at about the same period. About the +close of the seventeenth century an improved engine was patented in +England. It was a strong cistern of oak placed upon wheels, furnished +with a pump, an air chamber and a suction pipe of strong leather, +through which run a spiral piece of metal. This engine was little +improved until the early part of the last century. + +In the United States bucket fire departments were organized in most of +the cities in the early part of the last century, and hand engines, +used by the old volunteer firemen, did not come into general use until +about fifty years later. The New York volunteer fire department was +for a long time one of the institutions of the country. When they had +their annual parade the people of the surrounding towns would flock +to the city and the streets would be as impassible as they are to-day +when a representative of one of the royal families of Europe is placed +on exhibition. At the New York state fairs during the early '50s the +tournaments of the volunteer fire department of the various cities +throughout the state formed one of the principal attractions. Many +a melee occurred between the different organizations because they +considered that they had not been properly recognized in the line of +march or had not been awarded a medal for throwing a stream of water +farther than other competitors. + +A Berlin correspondent of the Pioneer Press many years ago, said that +when an alarm of fire was sounded in the city, the members of the fire +companies would put on their uniforms and report to their various +engine houses. When a sufficient number had assembled to make a +showing the foreman would call the roll, beer would be passed down the +line, the health of the kaiser properly remembered and then they would +start out in search of the fire. As a general thing the fire would +be out long before they arrived upon the scene, and they would then +return to their quarters, have another beer and be dismissed. + +To Cincinnati belongs the credit of having introduced the first paid +steam fire department in the United States, but all the other large +cities rapidly followed. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1850 the town fathers of St. Paul passed an ordinance +requiring the owners of all buildings, public or private, to provide +and keep in good repair, substantial buckets, marked with paint the +word "Fire" on one side and the owner's name on the other, subject +to inspection by the fire warden and to be under his control when +occasion required. The first attempt at organizing a fire brigade, was +made by R.C. Knox in the fall of 1851. Mr. Knox raised a small sum of +money by subscription, with which he purchased several ladders, and +they were frequently brought into requisition by the little band of +men whom Mr. Knox had associated with him. Mr. Knox was a man of +enormous stature, and it was said he could tire out a dozen ordinary +men at a fire. + + * * * * * + +Two public-spirited citizens of St. Paul, John McCloud and Thompson +Ritchie, purchased in the East and brought to the city at their own +expense the first fire engine introduced in the Northwest. Although +it was a miniature affair, on numerous occasions it rendered valuable +assistance in protecting the property of our pioneer merchants. Mr. +Ritchie is still living, his home being in Philadelphia. + + * * * * * + +In November, 1854, Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized +under provisions of the city charter. A constitution and by-laws were +adopted and the members agreed to turn out promptly on all occasions +of fire alarms. As compensation for their services they were excused +from jury duty, poll tax, work on the roads, or state military +service, for the period of five years. The original constitution of +the Pioneer Hook and Ladder company contained the following membership +roll: Foreman, Isaac A. Banker; assistant foremen, H.B. Pearson and +George F. Blake; treasurer, Richard Galloway; secretary, Robert Mason; +members, Henry Buell, John W. Cathcart, Charles D. Elfelt, Edward +Heenan, Thompson Ritchie, Philip Ross, Wash. M. Stees, J.W. Stevenson, +Benjamin F. Irvine, R.I. Thomson, John McCloud, J.Q.A. Ward, Charles +J. Williams. Of the above John McCloud is the only one living in the +city at the present time. Mr. McCloud was a member of the firm of +McCloud & Bro., hardware dealers, and they occupied the building on +the southwest corner of Third and Cedar streets. + +This was the first full-fledged fire organization in the city, and as +Mr. McCloud took the initiative in forming this company he may justly +be called the "Father of the Volunteer Fire Department of St. Paul." + +The old hook and ladder company was one of the representative +institutions of the city. From the date of its organization up to the +time of the establishment of the paid fire department many of the most +prominent men of the city were enrolled among its members. All of the +property of the company was owned by the organization, but in 1856, +having become somewhat financially embarrassed, their accounts were +turned over to the city and they were thereafter under the control of +the city fathers. At that time they possessed one truck, hooks and +ladders, and one fire engine with hose. Washington M. Stees was +made chief engineer and Charles H. Williams assistant. This scanty +equipment did not prove adequate for extinguishing fires and petitions +were circulated requesting the council to purchase two fire engines of +the more approved pattern, and also to construct a number of cisterns +in the central part of the city, so that an adequate supply of water +could be readily obtained. The city fathers concluded to comply with +the request of the petitioners and they accordingly purchased two +double-deck hand fire engines and they arrived in the city in August, +1858. They were soon tested and pronounced satisfactory. Our citizens +then congratulated themselves upon the possession of a first-class +fire department and they predicted that thereafter a great fire would +be a thing of the past. + +One of the most irrepressible members of Pioneer Hook and Ladder +company in the early days was a little red-headed Irishman by the name +of A.D. Martin. He was foreman of the Daily Minnesotian office and he +usually went by the name of "Johnny Martin." Now Johnny always kept +his fire paraphernalia close at hand, and every time a fire bell +sounded he was "Johnny on the spot." After the fire was over Johnny +generally had to celebrate, and every time Johnny celebrated he would +make a solemn declaration that it was his duty to kill an Irishman +before he returned to work. He would accordingly provide himself with +an immense Derringer and start out in quest of a subject upon whom he +proposed to execute his sanguinary threat. Strange to relate he +never succeeded in finding one of his unfortunate countrymen, and it +generally required two or three days to restore him to his former +equilibrium. If Johnny was a member of the fire department to-day he +would probably discover that the task of finding one of his countrymen +would not be so difficult. + + * * * * * + +In 1857 Hope Engine Company No. 1 was organized, and they petitioned +the common council to purchase 500 feet of hose for their use. In +the fall of 1858 this company was given possession of one of the new +engines recently purchased and it was comfortably housed at their +headquarters in an old frame building on the southwest corner of +Franklin and Fourth streets, and in a short time removed to a new +brick building on Third street, fronting on Washington. Michael Leroy +was made the first foreman and R.C. Wiley and Joseph S. Herey were +his assistants. The membership contained the names of John H. Dodge, +Porteus Dodge, John E. Missen, Joseph Elfelt, Fred Whipperman, John T. +Toal, J.H. Barstow, J.C. Grand, Charles Riehl, John Raguet, E. Rhodes, +B. Bradley, Charles Hughes, Bird Boesch, T.F. Masterson, John J. +Williams and V. Metzger. During the fall of 1858 a large number of the +most prominent business men in the vicinity of Seven Corners joined +the organization and continued in active membership until the arrival +of the first steamer. + + * * * * * + +In the winter of 1857-1858 Minnehaha Engine. Company No. 2 was +organized, and it was provided with an engine house near the corner +of Third and Jackson streets. The first officers were H.P. Grant, +foreman; M.J. O'Connor and H.B. Terwilliger, assistants; members, +Harry M. Shaw, Nicholas Hendy, John B. Oliver, F.A. Cariveau, H.A. +Schlick. C.D. Hadway, N. Nicuhaus, L.R. Storing, William T. Donaldson, +Daniel Rohrer, J. Fletcher Williams, N. W. Kittson, Alfred Bayace, +John McCauley and a number of others. The Minnehahas were a prosperous +organization from the first, and their engine house was always kept +open and served as a general lounging and reading-room for such of its +members as had nothing particular to do. + + * * * * * + +Rotary Independent Company No. 1 was the third engine connected with +the St. Paul fire department, but that was a private institution and +was only used when there was a general alarm and on the days of the +annual parade of the department. This engine was purchased from the +government by John S. Prince when Fort Snelling was abandoned, and was +used for the protection of the property of the mill, which was located +on lower Third street. + + * * * * * + +By the formation of Minnehaha Engine company the city fathers thought +they were possessed of quite a respectable fire department, and from +that time on the annual parade of the St. Paul fire department was one +of the events of the year. The first parade occurred on the 12th +of September, 1859, and was participated in by the following +organizations: + + Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. + Hope Engine Company No. 1. + Minnehaha Engine Company No. 2. + Rotary Independent Company No. 1. + +These four companies numbered 175 men, and after completing their line +of march were reviewed by the mayor and common council in front of the +old city hall. + +In 1858 the legislature passed an act requiring the sextons of the +different churches to ring the church bells fifteen minutes whenever +there was an alarm of fire. The uptown churches would ring their +bells, the downtown churches would ring their bells, and the churches +in the central part of the city would ring their bells. There was a +regular banging and clanging of the bells. + + "In the startled air of night, + They would scream out their afright, + Too much horrified to speak, + They could only shriek, shriek, + Out of tune." + +Every one turned out when the fire bells rang. Unless the fire was of +sufficient volume to be readily located, the uptown people would be +seen rushing downtown, and the downtown people would be seen rushing +uptown, in fact, general pandemonium prevailed until the exact +location of the fire could be determined. + +Whenever there was a large fire the regular firemen would soon tire +of working on the brakes and they would appeal to the spectators to +relieve them for a short time. As a general thing the appeal would be +readily responded to, but occasionally it would be necessary for the +police to impress into service a force sufficient to keep the brakes +working. Any person refusing to work on the brakes was liable to +arrest and fine, and it was often amusing to see the crowds disperse +whenever the police were in search of a relief force. + + * * * * * + +Upon the breaking out of the war a large number of the firemen +enlisted in the defense of the country and the ranks of the department +were sadly decimated. It was during the early part of the war that the +mayor of St. Paul made a speech to the firemen at the close of their +annual parade in which he referred to them as being as brave if not +braver than the boys at the front. The friends of the boys in blue +took serious umbrage at this break of the mayor, and the press of the +city and throughout the state were very indignant to think that the +capital city possessed a mayor of doubtful loyalty. The excitement +soon died away and the mayor was re-elected by a large majority. + + * * * * * + +There was not much change in the condition of the department until +the arrival of the first steamer, Aug. 11, 1866. The new steamer was +lodged with Hope Engine company, and an engineer and fireman appointed +at a salary of $1,600 per year for the two. The boys of Hope Engine +company did not like the selection of the engineer of the new steamer +and took the matter so seriously that their organization was disbanded +and St. Paul Hose Company No. 1 was organized, and they took charge +of the new steamer. The rapid growth of the city necessitated the +frequent purchase of new fire apparatus, and at the present time the +St. Paul fire department has 211 paid men, 15 steamers, 4 chemicals, 8 +hook and ladder companies and 122 horses. + + * * * * * + +The volunteer fire department had no better friend than the late Mrs. +Bartlett Presley. She was the guardian angel of the fire department. +No night so cold or storm so great that Mrs. Presley was not present +and with her own hands provide coffee and sandwiches for the tired and +hungry firemen who had been heroically battling with the flames. She +was an honored guest at all entertainments with which the firemen +were connected, and was always toasted and feasted by the boys at the +brakes. She will ever be remembered, not only by the firemen, but by +all old settlers, as one of the many noble women in St. Paul whose +unostentatious deeds of charity have caused a ray of sunshine in many +sad homes. + +Mrs. Presley's death was deeply regretted, not only by the fire +department, but by every resident of the city. + + * * * * * + +Among the many brilliant members of the legal fraternity in St. Paul +in early times no one possessed a more enviable reputation than +the Hon. Michael E. Ames. He was the very personification of +punctiliousness and always displayed sublime imperturbability in +exigencies of great moment. One dreary winter night his sleeping +apartment in uppertown was discovered to be on fire, and in a short +time the fire laddies appeared in front of his quarters and commenced +operations. As soon as Mr. Ames discovered the nature of the +disturbance he arose from his bed, opened the window, and with +outstretched arms and in a supplicating manner, as if addressing a +jury in an important case, exclaimed: "Gentlemen, if you will be kind +enough to desist from operations until I arrange my toilet, I will be +down." The learned counsel escaped with his toilet properly adjusted, +but his apartments were soon incinerated. + + * * * * * + +HOTEL FIRES. + + * * * * * + +LIST OF HOTELS DESTROYED BY FIRE DURING ST. PAUL'S EARLY HISTORY. + + Daniels house, near Seven Corners. + Sintominie hotel, Sixth street. + Rice house, near Rice Park. + New England hotel, Third street + Hotel to the Wild Hunter, Jackson street. + Montreal house, Robert street. + Canada house, Robert street. + Winslow house, Seven Corners. + American house, Third street. + International hotel, Seventh and Jackson streets. + Franklin house, Marshall avenue. + Dakota house, Seven Corners. + Washington house, Seven Corners. + Cosmopolitan hotel, Third street. + Western house, Third street. + Garden City house, Fourth street. + City hotel, Fourth street. + Central house, Bench street. + Emmert house, Bench street. + St. Paul house, Bench street. + Luxemborg hotel, Franklin street. + Farmers' hotel, Fourth street. + Greenman house, Fifth street. + Mansion house, Wabasha street. + Haine's hotel, Lake Como. + Aldrich house, Lake Como. + Park Place hotel, Summit avenue. + Carpenter house, Summit avenue. + Paul Faber's hotel, Third street. + + * * * * * + +The first hotel fire of any importance was that of the Daniels house, +located on Eagle street near Seven Corners, which occurred in 1852. +The building had just been finished and furnished for occupancy. A +strong wind was raging and the little band of firemen were unable +to save the structure. The names of Rev. D.D. Neill, Isaac Markley, +Bartlett Presley and W.M. Stees were among the firemen who assisted in +saving the furniture. + + * * * * * + +The Sintominie hotel on the corner of Sixth and John streets, was the +second hotel to receive a visit from the fire king. This hotel was +constructed by the late C.W. Borup, and it was the pride of lower +town. Howard Ward and E.C. Rich were preparing to open it when the +fire occurred. Owing to the lack of fire protection the building was +totally destroyed. + + * * * * * + +Early in the winter of 1856 the Rice house, commonly supposed to +be the first brick building erected in St. Paul, was burned to the +ground. It was three stories high, and when in process of building was +considered a visionary enterprise. The building was constructed by +Henry M. Rice, and he spared no expense to make it as complete as the +times would allow. It was situated on Third street near Market, and +in the early days was considered St. Paul's principal hotel. In its +parlor and barroom the second session of the territorial legislature +was held, and the supreme court of the territory also used it for +several terms. + + * * * * * + +The Canada house and the Galena house, two small frame structures on +Robert near Third, were the next hotels to be visited by the fiery +element. These hotels, though small, were well patronized at the time +of their destruction. + + * * * * * + +On the 16th of March, 1860, the most destructive fire that had ever +occurred in St. Paul broke out in a small wooden building on Third +street near Jackson, and though the entire fire department--three +engines and one truck, manned by one hundred men--were promptly on +hand, the flames rapidly got beyond their reach. Nearly all the +buildings on Third street at that time from Robert to Jackson were +two-story frame structures, and in their rear were small houses +occupied by the owners of the stores. When the fire was at its height +it was feared that the whole of lower town would be destroyed before +the flames could be subdued, but by dint of superhuman effort the +firemen managed to cut off the leap across Robert street and soon had +the immense smouldering mass under control. Thirty-four buildings, the +largest number ever destroyed in St. Paul, were in ashes. Of the two +blocks which lined the north and south sides of Third street above +Jackson, only three buildings were left standing, two being stone +structures occupied by Beaumont & Gordon and Bidwell & Co., and +the other a four-story brick building owned and occupied by A.L. +Larpenteur. The New England, a two-story log house, and one of the +first hotels built in St. Paul was among the ruins. The New England +was a feature in St. Paul, and it was pointed out to newcomers as the +first gubernatorial mansion, and in which Gov. and Mrs. Ramsey had +begun housekeeping in 1849. The Empire saloon was another historic +ruin, for in its main portion the first printing office of the +territory had long held forth, and from it was issued the first +Pioneer, April 10, 1849. The Hotel to the Wild Hunter was also +destroyed at this fire. + + * * * * * + +In the fall of 1862 the Winslow house, located at Seven Corners, was +entirely destroyed by fire. A defective stovepipe in the cupola caused +the fire, and it spread so rapidly that it was beyond the control +of the firemen when they arrived upon the scene. A few pieces of +furniture, badly damaged, was all that was saved of this once popular +hotel. The Winslow was a four-story brick building, and with the +exception of the Fuller house the largest hotel in the city. The hotel +was constructed in 1854 by the late J.M. Winslow. Mr. Winslow was one +of the most ingenious hotel constructors in the West. In some peculiar +manner he was enabled to commence the construction of a building +without any capital, but when the building was completed he not only +had the building, but a bank account that indicated that he was a +financier as well as a builder. The proprietors of the Winslow were +arrested for incendarism, but after a preliminary examination were +discharged. + + * * * * * + +The American house, on the corner of Third and Exchange streets, was +one of the landmarks of the city for a good many years. It was built +in 1849, and the territorial politicians generally selected this hotel +as their headquarters. Although it was of very peculiar architecture, +the interior fittings were of a modern character. On a stormy night in +the month of December, 1863, an alarm of fire was sent in from this +hotel, but before the fire department reached the locality the fire +was beyond their control. The weather was bitter cold, and the water +would be frozen almost as soon as it left the hose. Finding their +efforts fruitless to save the building, the firemen turned their +attention to saving the guests. There were some very narrow escapes, +but no accidents of a very serious nature. As usual, thieves were +present and succeeded in carrying off a large amount of jewelry and +wearing apparel belonging to the guests. + + * * * * * + +In the year of 1856 Mackubin & Edgerton erected a fine three-story +brick building on the corner of Third and Franklin streets. It was +occupied by them as a banking house for a long time. The business +center having been moved further down the street, they were compelled +to seek quarters on Bridge Square. After the bank moved out of +this building it was leased to Bechtner & Kottman, and was by them +remodeled into a hotel on the European plan at an expense of about +$20,000. It was named the Cosmopolitan hotel, and was well patronized. +When the alarm of fire was given it was full of lodgers, many of whom +lost all they possessed. The Linden theatrical company, which was +playing at the Athenaeum, was among the heavy sufferers. At this fire +a large number of frame buildings on the opposite side of the street +were destroyed. + +When the Cosmopolitan hotel burned the walls of the old building were +left standing, and although they were pronounced dangerous by the city +authorities, had not been demolished. Dr. Schell, one of the best +known physicians of the city, occupied a little frame building near +the hotel, and he severely denounced the city authorities for their +lax enforcement of the law. One night at 10 o'clock the city was +visited by a terrific windstorm, and suddenly a loud crash was heard +in the vicinity of the doctor's office. A portion of the walls of the +hotel had fallen and the little building occupied by the doctor had +been crushed in. The fire alarm was turned on and the fire laddies +were soon on the spot. No one supposed the doctor was alive, but after +the firemen had been at work a short time they could hear the voice +of the doctor from underneath the rubbish. In very vigorous English, +which the doctor knew so well how to use, he roundly upbraided the +fire department for not being more expeditious in extricating him from +his perilous position. After the doctor had been taken out of the +ruins It was found that he had not been seriously injured, and in the +course of a few weeks was able to resume practice. + + * * * * * + +During the winter of 1868 the Emmert house, situated on Bench street +near Wabasha, was destroyed by fire. The Emmert house was built in +territorial times by Fred Emmert, who for some time kept a hotel and +boarding house at that place. It had not been used for hotel purposes +for some time, but was occupied by a colored family and used as a +boarding-house for colored people. While the flames were rapidly +consuming the old building the discovery was made that a man and +his wife were sick in one of the rooms with smallpox. The crowd of +onlookers fled in terror, and they would have been burned alive had +not two courageous firemen carried them out of the building. It was +an unusually cold night and the colored people were dumped into the +middle of the street and there allowed to remain. They were provided +with clothing and some of the more venturesome even built a fire for +them, but no one would volunteer to take them to a place of shelter. +About 10 o'clock on the following day the late W.L. Wilson learned +of the unfortunate situation of the two colored people, and he +immediately procured a vehicle and took them to a place of safety, and +also saw that they were thereafter properly cared for. + + * * * * * + +On the site of the old postoffice on the corner of Wabasha and Fifth +streets stood the Mansion house, a three-story frame building erected +by Nicholas Pottgieser in early days at an expense of $12,000. It was +a very popular resort and for many years the weary traveler there +received a hearty welcome. + +A very exciting event occurred at this house during the summer of +1866. A man by the name of Hawkes, a guest at the hotel, accidentally +shot and instantly killed his young and beautiful wife. He was +arrested and tried for murder, but after a long and sensational trial +was acquited. + + * * * * * + +The greatest hotel fire in the history of St. Paul occurred on the +night of Feb. 3, 1869. The International hotel (formerly the Fuller +house) was situated on the northeast corner of Seventh and Jackson +streets, and was erected by A.G. Fuller in 1856. It was built of brick +and was five stories high. It cost when completed, about $110,000. For +years it had been the best hotel in the West. William H. Seward and +the distinguished party that accompanied him made this hotel their +headquarters during their famous trip to the West in 1860. Gen. Pope +and Gen. Sibley had their headquarters in this building, and from here +emanated all the orders relating to the war against the rebellious +Sioux. In 1861 the property came into the possession of Samuel Mayall, +and he changed the name of it from Fuller house to International +hotel. Col. E.C. Belote, who had formerly been the landlord of the +Merchants, was the manager of the hotel. The fire broke out in the +basement, it was supposed from a lamp in the laundry. The night was +intensely cold, a strong gale blowing from the northwest. Not a soul +could be seen upon the street. Within this great structure more than +two hundred guests were wrapped in silent slumber. To rescue them from +their perilous position was the problem that required instant action +on the part of the firemen and the hotel authorities. The legislature +was then in session, and many of the members were among the guests who +crowded the hotel. A porter was the first to notice the blaze, and +he threw a pail water upon it, but with the result that it made no +impression upon the flames. The fire continued to extend, and the +smoke became very dense and spread into the halls, filling them +completely, rendering breathing almost an impossibility. In the +meantime the alarm had been given throughout the house, and the +guests, both male and female, came rushing out of the rooms in their +night Clothes. The broad halls of the hotel were soon filled with a +crowd of people who hardly knew which way to go in order to find their +way to the street. The servant girls succeeded in getting out first, +and made their way to the snow-covered streets without sufficient +clothing to protect their persons, and most of them were without +shoes. While the people were escaping from the building the fire was +making furious and rapid progress. From the laundry the smoke issued +into every portion of the building. There was no nook or corner that +the flames did not penetrate. The interior of the building burned with +great rapidity until the fire had eaten out the eastern and southern +rooms, when the walls began to give indications of falling. The upper +portion of them waved back and forth in response to a strong wind, +which filled the night air with cinders. At last different portions of +the walls fell, thus giving the flames an opportunity to sweep from +the lower portions of the building. Great gusts, which seemed to +almost lift the upper floors, swept through the broken walls. High up +over the building the flames climbed, carrying with them sparks and +cinders, and in come instances large pieces of timber. All that saved +the lower part of the city from fiery destruction was the fact that a +solid bed of snow a foot deep lay upon the roofs of all the buildings. +During all this time there was comparative quiet, notwithstanding the +fact that the fire gradually extended across Jackson street and also +across Seventh street. Besides the hotel, six or eight other buildings +were also on fire, four of which were destroyed. Women and men were to +be seen hurrying out of the burning buildings in their night +clothes, furniture was thrown into the street, costly pianos, richly +upholstered furniture, valuable pictures and a great many other +expensive articles were dropped in the snow in a helter-skelter +manner. Although nearly every room in the hotel was occupied and +rumors flew thick and fast that many of the guests were still in their +rooms, fortunately no lives were lost and no one was injured. The +coolest person in the building was a young man by the name of Pete +O'Brien, the night watchman. When he heard of the fire he comprehended +in a moment the danger of a panic among over two hundred people who +were locked in sleep, unconscious of danger. He went from room to room +and from floor to floor, telling them of the danger, but assuring them +all that they had plenty of time to escape. He apparently took command +of the excited guests and issued orders like a general on the field of +battle. To his presence of mind and coolness many of the guests were +indebted for their escape from a frightful death. The fire department +worked hard and did good service. The city had no waterworks at that +time, but relied for water entirely upon cisterns located in different +parts of the city. When the cisterns became dry it was necessary +to place the steamer at the river and pump water through over two +thousand feet of hose. + +Among the guests at the hotel at the time of the fire were Gen. C.C. +Andrews, Judge Lochren, Capt. H.A. Castle, Gen. W.G. Le Duc, Selah +Chamberlain, Gov. Armstrong and wife, Charles A. Gilman and wife, +Dr. W.W. Mayo, I.W. Webb, Dr. Charles N. Hewitt, M.H. Dunnell, Judge +Thomas Wilson and more than two hundred others. + + * * * * * + +The Park Place hotel on the corner of Summit avenue and St. Peter +street, was at one time one of of the swell hotels of the city. It +was a frame building, four stories high and nicely situated. The +proprietors of it intended it should be a family hotel, but it did not +meet with the success anticipated, and when, on the 19th of May, 1878, +it was burned to the ground it was unoccupied. The fire was thought +to be the work of incendiaries. The loss was about $20,000, partially +insured. Four firemen were quite seriously injured at this fire, but +all recovered. + + * * * * * + +The Carpenter house, on the corner of Summit avenue and Ramsey street, +was built by Warren Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter was a man of colossal +ideas, and from the picturesque location of his hotel, overlooking the +city, he could see millions of tourists flocking to his hostelry. The +panic of 1857, soon followed by the great Civil war, put a quietus on +immigration, and left him stranded high on the beach. Mr. Carpenter's +dream of millions were far from being realized, and when on the 26th +of January, 1879, the hotel was burned to the ground, it had for some +time previous passed beyond his control. + + * * * * * + +At one time there were three flourishing hotels on Bench street. +The average citizen of to-day does not know that such a street ever +existed. The Central house, on the corner of Bench and Minnesota +streets, was the first hotel of any pretension built in the city, +and it was one of the last to be burned. The first session of the +territorial legislature of Minnesota was held in the dining room of +this old hotel building, and for a number of years the hotel did a +thriving business. As the city grew it was made over into a large +boarding house, and before the war Mrs. Corbett was manager of the +place. It was afterward kept by Mrs. Ferguson, George Pulford and Ben +Ferris, the latter being in possession of it when it was destroyed by +fire. The building was burned In August, 1873. + + * * * * * + +A hotel that was very popular for some time was the Greenman house, +situated on the corner of Fifth and St. Peter streets, the site of the +Windsor hotel. It was a three-story frame structure and was built in +the early seventies. Mr. Greenman kept the hotel for some time, and +then sold it to John Summers, who was the owner of it when it was +burned. + + * * * * * + +The Merchants is the only one of the old hotels still existing, and +that only in name, as the original structure was torn down to make +room for the present building many years ago. + + * * * * * + +Aside from the hotel fires one of the most appalling calamities that +ever occurred at a fire in St. Paul took place in May, 1870, when the +old Concert Hall building on Third street, near Market, was destroyed. +Concert Hall was built by the late J.W. McClung in 1857, and the hall +in the basement was one of the largest in the city. The building was +three stories high in front and six or seven on the river side. It +was located about twenty-five feet back from the sidewalk. Under the +sidewalk all kinds of inflamable material was stored and it was from +here that the fire was first noticed. In an incredibly short time +flames reached the top of the building, thus making escape almost +impossible. On the river side of the building on the top floor two +brothers, Charles and August Mueller, had a tailor shop. The fire +spread so rapidly that the building was completely enveloped in flames +before they even thought their lives were endangered. In front of them +was a seething mass of flames and the distance to the ground on the +river side was so great that a leap from the window meant almost +certain death. They could be plainly seen frantically calling for +help. There was no possible way to reach them. Finally Charles Mueller +jumped out on the window sill and made a leap for life, and an instant +later he was followed by his brother. The bewildered spectators did +not suppose for a moment that either could live. They were too much +horrified to speak, but when it was over and they were lifted into +beds provided for them doctors were called and recovery was pronounced +possible. After months of suffering both recovered. August Mueller is +still living in the city. A lady by the name of McClellan, who had a +dressmaking establishment in the building, was burned to death and it +was several days before her body was recovered. + +The following named men have been chiefs of the St. Paul fire +department: + + Wash M. Stees, + Chas. H. Williams, + J.C.A. Pickett, + W.T. Donaldson, + J.B. Irvine, + J.E. Missen, + Luther H. Eddy, + B. Rodick, + M.B. Farrell, + J.C. Prendergast, + Bartlett Presley, + Frank Brewer, + R.O. Strong, + John T. Black, + Hart N. Cook, + John Jackson. + + + + +THE FIRST AMUSEMENT HALLS IN ST. PAUL. + +INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE EARLY AMUSEMENT HALLS OF ST. PAUL--IRVINE +HALL--DAN EMMET AND DIXIE--THE HUTCHINSONS--MAZURKA HALL, MOZART HALL, +ETC. + + +Very few of the 200,000 inhabitants of St. Paul are aware that the +three-story, three-cornered building on Third street at Seven Corners +once contained one of the most popular amusement halls in the city. It +was called Irvine hall, and at one time Melodeon hall. Dan Emmet had a +minstrel company at this hall during the years 1857 and 1858, and an +excellent company it was, too. There was Frank Lombard, the great +baritone; Max Irwin, bones, and one of the funniest men who ever sat +on the stage; Johnny Ritter, female impersonator and clog dancer, and +a large number of others. Frank Lombard afterward achieved a national +reputation as one of the best baritone singers in the country. He +was much sought after for patriotic entertainments and political +conventions. His masterpiece was the Star-Spangled Banner, and his +great baritone voice, which could be heard for blocks, always brought +enthusiastic applause. Some time during the summer of 1858 the +Hutchinson family arranged to have the hall for a one-night +entertainment. By some means or other the troupe got separated and one +of the brothers got stalled on Pig's Eye bar. When their performance +was about half over the belated brother reached the hall and rushed +frantically down the aisle, with carpetbag in hand, leaped upon the +stage, and in full view of the audience proceeded to kiss the entire +tribe. The audience was under the impression they had been separated +for years instead of only twenty-four hours. The next evening Max +Irwin was missing from his accustomed place as one of the end men, and +when the performance had been in progress for about fifteen minutes +Max came rushing down the aisle with carpetbag in hand and went +through the same performance as did the lost brother of the Hutchinson +family. The effect was electrical, and for some time Max's innovation +was the talk of the town. Dan Emmet, though a wondering minstrel, was +a very superior man and was his own worst enemy. He was a brother of +Lafayette S. Emmett, chief justice of the supreme court of the State +of Minnesota. The judge, dignified and aristocratic, did not take +kindly to the idea of his brother being a minstrel. Dan was not +particularly elated because his brother was on the supreme bench. They +were wholly indifferent as to each other's welfare. They did not even +spell their names the same way. Dan had only one "t" at the end of his +name, while the judge used two. Whether the judge used two because +he was ashamed of Dan, or whether Dan used only one because he was +ashamed of the judge, no one seemed to know. Dan Emmet left a legacy +that will be remembered by the lovers of melody for many years. What +left the judge? When Emmet's company left St. Paul they got stranded +and many of them found engagements in other organizations. Dan turned +his attention to writing negro melodies. He wrote several popular +airs, one of them being "Dixie," which afterward became the national +air of the Confederate States. When "Dixie" was written Emmet was +connected with Bryant's Minstrels in New York city, and he sent a copy +to his friend in St. Paul, the late R.C. Munger, and asked his opinion +as to its merits and whether he thought it advisable to place it +in the hands of a publisher. Mr. Munger assured his friend that he +thought it would make a great hit, and he financially assisted Mr. +Emmet in placing it before the public. One of the first copies printed +was sent to Mr. Munger, and the first time this celebrated composition +was ever sung in the West was in the music store of Munger Bros, in +the old concert hall building on Third street. "Dixie" at once became +very popular, and was soon on the program of every minstrel troupe in +the country. Dan Emmet devoted his whole life to minstrelsy and he +organized the first traveling minstrel troupe in the United States, +starting from some point in Ohio in 1843. + +The father of the Emmets was a gallant soldier of the War of 1812, and +at one time lived in the old brown frame house at the intersection of +Ramsey and West Seventh streets, recently demolished. A correspondent +of one of the magazines gives the following account of how "Dixie" +happened to become the national air of the Confederate States: + +"Early in the war a spectacular performance was being given in New +Orleans. Every part had been filled, and all that was lacking was a +march and war song for the grand chorus. A great many marches and +songs were tried, but none could be decided upon until 'Dixie' was +suggested and tried, and all were so enthusiastic over it that it +was at once adopted and given in the performance. It was taken up +immediately by the populace and was sung in the streets and in homes +and concert halls daily. It was taken to the battlefields, and there +became the great song of the South, and made many battles harder +for the Northerner, many easier for the Southerner. Though it has +particularly endeared itself to the South, the reunion of American +hearts has made it a national song. Mr. Lincoln ever regarded it as a +national property by capture." + + * * * * * + +The Hutchinson family often visited St. Paul, the enterprising town of +Hutchinson, McLeod county, being named after them. They were a very +patriotic family and generally sang their own music. How deliberate +the leader of the tribe would announce the title of the song about to +be produced. Asa Hutchinson would stand up behind the melodeon, +and with a pause between each word inform the audience that +"Sister--Abby--will--now--sing--the--beautiful--song--composed-- +by--Lucy--Larcum--entitled--'Hannah--Is--at--the--Window--Binding-- +Shoes.'" And sister Abby would sing it, too. During the early +part of the war the Hutchinson family was ordered out of the Army of +the Potomac by Gen. McClellan on account of the abolition sentiments +expressed in its songs. The general was apparently unable to interpret +the handwriting on the wall, as long before the war was ended the +entire army was enthusiastically chanting that beautiful melody to the +king of abolitionists-- + + "John Brown's body lies moldering in the grave + And his soul is marching on." + +Gen. McClellan was at one time the idol of the army, as well as of the +entire American people. Before the war he was chief engineer of the +Illinois Central railroad and made frequent trips to St. Paul to see +the future Mrs. McClellan, a Miss Marcy, daughter of Maj. R.B. Marcy +of the regular army, who lived in the old Henry M. Rice homestead on +Summit avenue. When Gen. McClellan was in command of the Army of the +Potomac Maj. Marcy was his chief of staff. + +One of the original Hutchinsons is still living, as indicated by the +following dispatch, published since the above was written: + +"Chicago, Ill., Jan. 4, 1902.--John W. Hutchinson, the last survivor +of the famous old concert-giving Hutchinson family, which +was especially prominent in anti-bellum times, received many +congratulations to-day on the occasion of his eighty-first birthday, +Mr. Hutchinson enjoys good health and is about to start on a new +singing and speaking crusade through the South, this time against the +sale and us of cigarettes. Mr. Hutchinson made a few remarks to the +friends who had called upon him, in the course of which he said: 'I +never spent a more enjoyable birthday than this, except upon the +occasion of my seventy-fifth, which I spent in New York and was +tendered a reception by the American Temperance union, of which I was +the organizer. Of course you will want me to sing to you, and I +think I will sing my favorite song, which I wrote myself. It is "The +Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man." I have written a great +many songs, among them "The Blue and the Gray," "Good old Days of +Yore," and some others that I cannot remember now. I sang the "Blue +and the Gray" in Atlanta six years ago, at the time of the exposition +there, and McKinley was there. I had the pleasure of saying a few +words at that time about woman's suffrage. I wrote the first song +about woman's suffrage and called it "Good Times for Women." This is +the 11,667th concert which I have taken part in.'" + +The venerable singer is reputed to be quite wealthy. A few years ago +one of the children thought the old man was becoming entirely too +liberal in the distribution of his wealth, and brought an action in +the New York courts requesting the appointment of a guardian to +his estate. The white-haired musician appeared in court without an +attorney, and when the case was about to be disposed of made a request +of the judge, which was granted, that he might be sworn. After Mr. +Hutchinson had made his statement to the court the judge asked a few +questions. "How is your memory?" said the judge. "Memory," replied the +old man. "I remember the flavor of the milk at the maternal fountain." +The judge concluded that Mr. Hutchinson was fully capable of managing +his own affairs. + + * * * * * + +Concert hall, built in 1857 by J.W. McClung, had room for 400 or 500 +people, but it was somewhat inaccessible on account of its being in +the basement of the building and was not very much in demand. Horatio +Seymour made a great speech to the Douglas wing of the Democracy in +the hall during the campaign of 1880, and Tom Marshall, the great +Kentucky orator, delivered a lecture on Napoleon to a large audience +In the same place. On the night of the presidential election in 1860 a +number of musicians who had been practicing on "Dixie" and other music +in Munger's music store came down to the hall and entertained the +Republicans who had gathered there for the purpose of hearing the +election returns. There was a great deal more singing than there was +election returns, as about all the news they were able to get was from +the four precincts of St. Paul, New Canada, Rose and Reserve townships +and West St. Paul. We had a telegraph line, to be sure, but Mr. +Winslow, who owned the line, would not permit the newspapers, or any +one else, to obtain the faintest hint of how the election had gone in +other localities. After singing until 11 or 12 o'clock, and abusing +Mr. Winslow in language that the linotype is wholly unable to +reproduce, the crowd dispersed. Nothing could be heard of how the +election had gone until the following afternoon, when Gov. Ramsey +received a dispatch from New York announcing that that state had +given Mr. Lincoln 50,000 majority. As that was the pivotal state the +Republicans immediately held a jollification meeting. + + * * * * * + +Tom Marshall was one of the most eloquent orators America ever +produced. He was spending the summer in Minnesota endeavoring to +recover from the effects of an over-indulgence of Kentucky's great +staple product, but the glorious climate of Minnesota did not seem to +have the desired effect, as he seldom appeared on the street without +presenting the appearance of having discovered in the North Star State +an elixer fully as invigorating as any produced in the land where +colonels, orators and moonshiners comprise the major portion of the +population. One day as Marshall came sauntering down Third street he +met a club of Little Giants marching to a Democratic gathering. +They thought they would have a little sport at the expense of the +distinguished orator from Kentucky, and they haulted immediately in +front of him and demanded a speech. They knew that Mr. Marshall was a +pronounced Whig and supported the candidacy of Bell and Everett, but +as he was from a slave state they did not think he would say anything +reflecting on the character of their cherished leader. Mr. Marshall +stepped to the front of the sidewalk and held up his hand and said: +"Do you think Douglas will ever be president? He will not, as no man +of his peculiar physique ever entered the sacred portals of the White +House." He then proceeded to denounce Douglas and the Democratic party +in language that was very edifying to the few Republicans who chanced +to be present. The Little Giants concluded that it was not the proper +caper to select a casual passer-by for speaker, and were afterward +more particular in their choice of an orator. + + * * * * * + +One night there was a Democratic meeting in the hall and after a +number of speakers had been called upon for an address, De Witt C. +Cooley, who was a great wag, went around in the back part of the hall +and called upon the unterrified to "Holler for Cooley." The request +was complied with and Mr. Cooley's name was soon on the lips of nearly +the whole audience. When Mr. Cooley mounted the platform an Irishman +in the back part of the hall inquired in a voice loud enough to be +heard by the entire audience, "Is that Cooley?" Upon being assured +that it was, he replied in a still louder voice: "Be jabers, that's +the man that told me to holler for Cooley." The laugh was decidedly on +Cooley, and his attempted flight of oratory did not materialize. + +Cooley was at one time governor of the third house and if his message +to that body could be reproduced it would make very interesting +reading. + + * * * * * + +The Athenaeum was constructed in 1859 by the German Reading society, +and for a number of years was the only amusement hall in St. Paul with +a stage and drop curtain. In 1861 Peter and Caroline Richings spent +a part of the summer in St. Paul, and local amusement lovers were +delightfully entertained by these celebrities during their sojourn. +During the war a number of dramatic and musical performances were +given at the Athenaeum for the boys in blue. The cantata of "The +Haymakers," for the benefit of the sanitary commission made quite a +hit, and old residents will recollect Mrs. Winne, Mrs. Blakeley and +Prof. Perkins, who took the leading parts. Prof. Phil Roher and Otto +Dreher gave dramatic performances both in German and English for some +time after the close of the war. Plunkett's Dramatic company, with +Susan Denin as the star, filled the boards at this hall a short time +before the little old opera house was constructed on Wabasha street. +During the Sioux massacre a large number of maimed refugees were +brought to the city and found temporary shelter in this place. + + * * * * * + +In 1853 Market hall, on the corner of Wabasha and Seventh streets, was +built, and it was one of the principal places of amusement. The Hough +Dramatic company, with Bernard, C.W. Couldock, Sallie St. Clair and +others were among the notable performers who entertained theatergoers. +In 1860 the Wide Awakes used this place for a drill hall, and so +proficient did the members become that many of them were enabled to +take charge of squads, companies and even regiments in the great +struggle that was soon to follow. + + * * * * * + +In 1860 the Ingersoll block on Bridge Square was constructed, and as +that was near the center of the city the hall on the third floor +was liberally patronized for a number of years. Many distinguished +speakers have entertained large and enthusiastic audiences from the +platform of this popular hall. Edward Everett, Ralph Waldo Emerson and +John B. Gough are among the great orators who have electrified and +instructed the older inhabitants, and the musical notes of the Black +Swan, Mlle. Whiting and Madame Varian will ever be remembered by +those whose pleasure it was to listen to them. Mrs. Scott Siddons, an +elocutionist of great ability and a descendant of the famous English +family of actors of that name, gave several dramatic readings to her +numerous admirers. When Sumter was fired on, Capt. W.H. Acker used +this hall as a rendezvous and drill hall for Company C, First regiment +of Minnesota volunteers, and many rousing war meetings for the purpose +of devising ways and means for the furtherance of enlistments took +place in this building. + +In February, 1861, the ladies of the different Protestant churches of +St. Paul, with the aid of the Young Men's Christian association, gave +a social and supper in this building for the purpose of raising funds +for the establishment of a library. It was a sort of dedicatory +opening of the building and hall, and was attended by large +delegations from the different churches. Quite a large sum was +realized. A room was fitted up on the second story and the beginning +of what is now the St. Paul library soon opened up to the public. +About 350 books were purchased with the funds raised by the social, +and the patrons of the library were required to pay one dollar per +year for permission to read them. Dr. T.D. Simonton was the first +librarian. Subsequently this library was consolidated with the St. +Paul Mercantile Library association and the number of books more than +doubled. A regular librarian was then installed with the privilege of +reading the library's books raised to two dollars per annum. + + * * * * * + +The People's theater, an old frame building on the corner of Fourth +and St. Peter streets, was the only real theatrical building in +the city. H. Van Liew was the lessee and manager of this place of +entertainment, and he was provided with a very good stock company. +Emily Dow and her brother, Harry Gossan and Azelene Allen were among +the members. During the summer of 1858 Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Wallack came +to St. Paul and played a two weeks' engagement. They were the most +prominent actors who had yet appeared in this part of the country. + +"The Man in the Iron Mask" and "Macbeth" were on their repertoire. +Probably "Macbeth" was never played to better advantage or to more +appreciative audiences than it was during the stay of the Wallacks. +Mrs. Wallack's Lady Macbeth was a piece of acting that few of the +present generation can equal. Col. R.E.J. Miles was one of the stars +at this theater, and it was at this place that he first produced the +play of "Mazeppa," which afterward made him famous. A.M. Carver, +foreman of the job department of the St. Paul Times, often assisted in +theatrical productions. Mr. Carver was not only a first-class printer, +but he was also a very clever actor. His portrayal of the character of +Uncle Tom in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which had quite a run, and was fully +equal to any later production by full fledged members of the dramatic +profession. Mr. Carver was one of the first presidents of the +International Typographical union, and died in Cincinnati many years +ago, leaving a memory that will ever be cherished by all members of +the art preservative. + +This theater had a colored gallery, and the shaded gentry were +required to pay as much for admission to the gallery at the far end of +the building as did the nabobs in the parquet. Joe Rolette, the member +from "Pembina" county, occasionally entertained the audience at this +theater by having epileptic fits, but Joe's friends always promptly +removed him from the building and the performance would go on +undisturbed. + + * * * * * + +On the second story of an old frame building on the southeast corner +of Third and Exchange streets there was a hall that was at one time +the principal amusement hall of the city. The building was constructed +in 1850 by the Elfelt brothers and the ground floor was occupied by +them as a dry goods store. It is one of the very oldest buildings in +the city. The name of Elfelt brothers until quite recently could be +seen on the Exchange street side of the building. The hall was named +Mazurka hall, and all of the swell entertainments of the early '50s +took place in this old building. At a ball given in the hall during +one of the winter months more than forty years ago, J.Q.A. Ward, +bookkeeper for the Minnesotian, met a Miss Pratt, who was a daughter +of one of the proprietors of the same paper, and after an acquaintance +of about twenty minutes mysteriously disappeared from the hall and got +married. They intended to keep it a secret for a while, but it was +known all over the town the next day and produced great commotion. +Miss Pratt's parents would not permit her to see her husband, and they +were finally divorced without having lived together. + +For a number of years Napoleon Heitz kept a saloon and restaurant in +this building. Heitz had participated in a number of battles under +the great Napoleon, and the patrons of his place well recollect the +graphic descriptions of the battle of Waterloo which he would often +relate while the guest was partaking of a Tom and Jerry or an oyster +stew. + + * * * * * + +During the summer of 1860 Charles N. Mackubin erected two large +buildings on the site of the Metropolitan hotel. Mozart hall was on +the Third street end and Masonic hall on the Fourth street corner. At +a sanitary fair held during the winter of 1864 both of these halls +were thrown together and an entertainment on a large scale was +held for the benefit of the almost depleted fundes of the sanitary +commission. Fairs had been given for this fund in nearly all the +principal cities of the North, and it was customary to vote a sword +to the most popular volunteer officer whom the state had sent to the +front. A large amount of money had been raised in the different cities +on this plan, and the name of Col. Marshall of the Seventh regiment +and Col. Uline of the Second were selected as two officers in whom it +was thought the people would take sufficient interest to bring out a +large vote. The friends of both candidates were numerous and each side +had some one stationed at the voting booth keeping tab on the number +of votes cast and the probable number it would require at the close +to carry off the prize. Col. Uline had been a fireman and was very +popular with the young men of the city. Col. Marshall was backed by +friends in the different newspaper offices. The contest was very +spirited and resulted in Col. Uline capturing the sword, he having +received more than two thousand votes in one bundle during the last +five minutes the polls were open. This fair was very successful, +the patriotic citizens of St. Paul having enriched the funds of the +sanitary commission by several thousand dollars. + + * * * * * + +One of the first free concert halls in the city was located on Bridge +Square, and it bore the agonizing name of Agony hall. Whether it +was named for its agonizing music or the agonizing effects of its +beverages was a question that its patrons were not able to determine. + + * * * * * + +In anti-bellum times Washington's birthday was celebrated with more +pomp and glory than any holiday during the year. The Pioneer Guards, +the City Guards, the St. Paul Light Artillery, the St. Paul fire +department and numerous secret organizations would form in +procession and march to the capitol, and in the hall of the house of +representatives elaborate exercises commemorative of the birth of the +nation's first great hero would take place. Business was generally +suspended and none of the daily papers would be issued on the +following day. + +In 1857 Adalina Patti appeared in St. Paul for the first time. She was +about sixteen years old and was with the Ole Bull Concert company. +They traveled on a small steamboat and gave concerts in the river +towns. Their concert took place in the hall of the house of +representatives of the old capitol, that being the only available +place at the time. Patti's concert came near being nipped in the bud +by an incident that has never been printed. Two boys employed as +messengers at the capitol, both of whom are now prominent business +men in the city, procured a key to the house, and, in company with a +number of other kids, proceeded to representative hall, where they +were frequently in the habit of congregating for the purpose of +playing cards, smoking cigars, and committing such other depradations +as it was possible for kids to conceive. After an hour or so of +revelry the boys returned the key to its proper place and separated. +In a few minutes smoke was seen issuing from the windows of the hall +and an alarm of fire was sounded. The door leading to the house was +forced open and it was discovered that the fire had nearly burned +through the floor. The boys knew at once that it was their +carelessness that had caused the alarm, and two more frightened kids +never got together. They could see visions of policemen, prison bars, +and even Stillwater, day and night for many years. They would often +get together on a back street and in whispered tones wonder if they +had yet been suspected. For more than a quarter of a century these two +kids kept this secret in the innermost recesses of their hearts, +and it is only recently that they dared to reveal their terrible +predicament. + + * * * * * + +A few days after Maj. Anderson was compelled to lower the Stars and +Stripes on Sumter's walls a mass meeting of citizens, irrespective of +party, was called to meet at the hall of the house of representatives +for the purpose of expressing the indignation of the community at the +dastardly attempt of the Cotton States to disrupt the government. +Long before the time for the commencement of the meeting the hall was +packed and it was found necessary to adjourn to the front steps of +the building in order that all who desired might take part in the +proceedings. Hon. John S. Prince, mayor of the city, presided, +assisted by half a dozen prominent citizens as vice presidents. Hon. +John M. Gilman, an honored resident of the city, was one of the +principal speakers. Mr. Gilman had been the Democratic candidate for +congress the fall previous, and considerable interest was manifested +to hear what position he would take regarding the impending conflict. +It was very soon apparent that Mr. Gilman was in hearty sympathy with +the object of the meeting and his remarks were received with great +demonstrations of approbation. Hon. J.W. Taylor followed Mr. Gilman +and made a strong speech in favor of sustaining Mr. Lincoln. There +were a number of other addresses, after which resolutions were adopted +pledging the government the earnest support of the citizens, calling +on the young men to enroll their names on the roster of the rapidly +forming companies and declaring that they would furnish financial aid +when necessary to the dependant families of those left behind. Similar +meetings were held in different parts of the city a great many times +before the Rebellion was subdued. + + * * * * * + +The first Republican state convention after the state was admitted +into the Union was held in the hall of the house of representatives. +The state was not divided into congressional districts at that time +and Col. Aldrich and William Windom were named as the candidates for +representatives in congress. Col. Aldrich did not pretend to be much +of an orator, and in his speech of acceptance he stated that while +he was not endowed with as much oratorical ability as some of his +associates on the ticket, yet he could work as hard as any one, and +he promised that he would sweat at least a barrel in his efforts to +promote the success of the ticket. + + * * * * * + +Aromory hall, on Third street, between Cedar and Minnesota, was built +in 1859, and was used by the Pioneer Guards up to the breaking out of +the war. The annual ball of the Pioneer Guards was the swell affair of +the social whirl, and it was anticipated with as much interest by +the Four Hundred as the charity ball is to-day. The Pioneer Guards +disbanded shortly after the war broke out, and many of its members +were officers in the Union army, although two or three of them stole +away and joined the Confederate forces, one of them serving on Lee's +staff during the entire war. Col. Wilkin Col. King, Col. Farrell, +Capt. Coates, Capt. Van Slyke, Capt. Western, Lieut. Zernberg and +Lieut. Tuttle were early in the fray, while a number of others +followed as the war progressed. + + * * * * * + +It was not until the winter of 1866-67 that St. Paul could boast of a +genuine opera house. The old opera house fronting on Wabasha street, +on the ground that is now occupied by the Grand block, was finished +that winter and opened with a grand entertainment given by local +talent. The boxes and a number of seats in the parquet were sold at +auction, the highest bidder being a man by the name of Philbrick, who +paid $72 for a seat in the parquet. This man Philbrick was a visitor +in St. Paul, and had a retinue of seven or eight people with him. It +was whispered around that he was some kind of a royal personage, and +when he paid $72 for a seat at the opening of the opera house people +were sure that he was at least a duke. He disappeared as mysteriously +as he had appeared. It was learned afterward that this mysterious +person was Coal Oil Johnny out on a lark. The first regular company to +occupy this theater was the Macfarland Dramatic company, with Emily +Melville as the chief attraction. This little theater could seat about +1,000 people, and its seating capacity was taxed many a time long +before the Grand opera house in the rear was constructed. Wendell +Philips, Henry Ward Beecher, Theodore Tilton, Frederick Douglass and +many others have addressed large audiences from the stage of this old +opera house. An amusing incident occurred while Frederick Douglass was +in St. Paul. Nearly every seat in the house had been sold long before +the lecture was to commence, and when Mr. Douglass commenced speaking +there was standing room only. A couple of enthusiastic Republicans +found standing room in one of the small upper boxes, and directly in +front of them was a well-known Democratic politician by the name of +W.H. Shelley. Mr. Shelley had at one time been quite prominent in +local Republican circles, but when Andrew Johnson made his famous +swing around the circle Shelley got an idea that the proper thing to +do was to swing around with him. Consequently the Republicans who +stood up behind Mr. Shelley thought they would have a little amusement +at his expense. Every time Mr. Douglass made a point worthy +of applause these ungenerous Republicans would make a great +demonstration, and as the audience could not see them and could +only see the huge outline of Mr. Shelley they concluded that he was +thoroughly enjoying the lecture and had probably come back to the +Republican fold. Mr. Shelley stood it until the lecture was about +half over, when he left the opera house in disgust. Mr. Shelley was a +candidate for the position of collector of customs of the port of St. +Paul and his name had been sent to the senate by President Johnson, +but as that body was largely Republican his nomination lacked +confirmation. + + * * * * * + +About the time of the great Heenan and Sayers prize fight in England +a number of local sports arranged to have a mock engagement at the +Athenaeum. There was no kneitoscopic method of reproducing a fight at +that time, but it was planned to imitate the great fight as closely as +possible. James J. Hill was to imitate Sayers and Theodore Borup the +Benecia boy. They were provided with seconds, surgeons and all +the attendants necessary for properly staging the melee. It was +prearranged that Theodore, in the sixth or seventh round, was to knock +Hill out, but as the battle progressed, Theodore made a false pass and +Hill could not desist from taking advantage of it, and the prearranged +plan was reversed by Hill knocking Theodore out. And Hill has kept +right on taking advantage of the false movements of his adversaries, +and is now knocking them out with more adroitness than he did forty +years ago. + + + + +PRINTERS AND EDITORS OF TERRITORIAL DAYS. + +CAPT.E.Y. SHELLEY THE PIONEER PRINTER OF MINNESOTA--A LARGE NUMBER OF +PRINTERS IN THE CIVIL WAR--FEW OF. THE OLD TIMERS LEFT. + + +TERRITORIAL PRINTERS. + + * * * * * + + E.Y. Shelly, + George W. Moore, + John C. Devereux, + Martin Williams, + H.O. Bassford, + Geo. W. Benedict, + Louis E. Fisher, + Geo. W. Armstrong, + J.J. Noah, + M.J. Clum, + Samuel J. Albright, + David Brock, + D.S. Merret, + Richard Bradley, + A.C. Crowell, + Sol Teverbaugh, + Edwin Clark, + Harry Bingham, + William Wilford, + Ole Kelson, + C.R. Conway, + Isaac H. Conway, + David Ramaley, + M.R. Prendergast, + Edward Richards, + Francis P. McNamee, + E.S. Lightbourn, + William Creek, + Alex Creek, + Marshall Robinson, + Jacob T. McCoy, + A.J. Underwood, + J.B. Chaney, + James M. Culver, + Frank H. Pratt, + A.S. Diamond, + Frank Daggett, + R.V. Hesselgrave, + A.D. Martin, + W.G. Jebb, + R.F. Slaughter, + Thos. Slaughter, + William A. Hill, + H.P. Coates, + A.J. Sterrett, + Richard McLagan, + Ed. McLagan, + Robert Bryan, + Jas. Wright, + O.G. Miller, + J.B.H. Mitchell, + Chas. R. Stuart, + Wm. F. Russell, + D.L. Paine, + Benj. Drake, + J.C. Terry, + Thomas Jebb, + Francis P. Troxill, + J.Q.A. Ward, + A.J. Morgan, + M.V.B. Young, + H.L. Vance, + A.M. Carver, + W.H. Wheeler, + J.M. Dugan, + Luke Mulrean, + H.H. Young, + W.G. Allen, + Barrett Smith, + Thos. C. Schenck. + +Of the above long list of territorial printers the following are the +only known survivors: H.O. Bassford, George W. Benedict, David Brock, +John C. Devereux, Barrett Smith, J.B.H. Mitchell, David Ramaley, M.R. +Prendergast, Jacob T. McCoy, A.S. Diamond, R.V. Hesselgrave, H.P. +Coates, J.R. Chaney, M.J. Clum. + + +CAPT. E.Y. SHELLY. + +Much has been written of the trials and tribulations of the pioneer +editors of Minnesota and what they have accomplished in bringing to +the attention of the outside world the numerous advantages possessed +by this state as a place of permanent location for all classes of +people, but seldom, if ever, has the nomadic printer, "the man behind +the gun," received even partial recognition from the chroniclers of +our early history. In the spring of 1849 James M. Goodhue arrived in +St. Paul from Lancaster, Wis., with a Washington hand press and a few +fonts of type, and he prepared to start a paper at the capital of the +new territory of Minnesota. Accompanying him were two young printers, +named Ditmarth and Dempsey, they being the first printers to set foot +on the site of what was soon destined to be the metropolis of the +great Northwest. These two young men quickly tired of their isolation +and returned to their former home. They were soon followed by another +young man, who had only recently returned from the sunny plains +of far-off Mexico, where he had been heroically battling for his +country's honor. Capt. E.Y. Shelly was born in Bucks county, Pa., +on the 25th of September, 1827. When a mere lad he removed to +Philadelphia, where he was instructed in the art preservative, and, on +the breaking out of the Mexican war, he laid aside the stick and rule +and placed his name on the roster of a company that was forming to +take part in the campaign against the Mexicans. He was assigned to +the Third United States dragoons and started at once for the scene of +hostilities. On arriving at New Orleans the Third dragoons was ordered +to report to Gen. Taylor, who was then in the vicinity of Matamoras. +As soon as Gen. Taylor was in readiness he drove the Mexicans across +the Rio Grande, and the battles of Palo Alto, Monterey and Buena Vista +followed in quick succession, in all of which the American forces +were successful against an overwhelming force of Mexicans, the Third +dragoons being in all the engagements, and they received special +mention for their conspicuous gallantry in defending their position +against the terrible onslaught of the Mexican forces under the +leadership of Santa Ana. Soon after the battle of Buena Vista, Santa +Ana withdrew from Gen. Taylor's front and retreated toward the City +of Mexico, in order to assist in the defense of that city against the +American forces under the command of Gen. Scott. Peace was declared in +1848 and the Third dragoons were ordered to Jefferson barracks, St. +Louis, where they were mustered out of the service. Capt. Shelly took +passage in a steamer for St. Paul, where he arrived in July, 1849, +being the first printer to permanently locate in Minnesota. The +Pioneer was the first paper printed in St. Paul, but the Register and +Chronicle soon followed. Capt. Shelly's first engagement was in the +office of the Register, but he soon changed to the Pioneer, and was +employed by Mr. Goodhue at the time of his tragic death. When Col. +Robertson Started the Daily Democrat Capt. Shelly was connected +with that office, and remained there until the Pioneer and Democrat +consolidated. Capt. Shelly was a member of the old Pioneer guards, and +when President Lincoln called for men to suppress the rebellion the +old patriotism was aroused in him, and he organized, in company with +Major Brackett, a company for what was afterward known as Brackett's +battalion. + +Brackett's battalion consisted of three Minnesota companies, and they +were mustered into service in September, 1861. They were ordered to +report at Benton barracks, Mo., and were assigned to a regiment known +as Curtis horse, but afterward changed to Fifth Iowa cavalry. In +February, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Fort Henry, Tenn., and +arrived just in time to take an important part in the attack and +surrender of Fort Donelson. Brackett's battalion was the only +Minnesota force engaged at Fort Donelson, and, although they were +not in the thickest of the fight, yet they performed tremendous and +exhaustive service in preventing the rebel Gen. Buckner from receiving +reinforcements. After the surrender the regiment was kept on continual +scout duty, as the country was overrun with bands of guerrillas and +the inhabitants nearly all sympathized with them. From Fort Donelson +three companies of the regiment went to Savannah, (one of them being +Capt. Shelly's) where preparations were being made to meet Gen. +Beauregard, who was only a short distance away. Brackett's company was +sent out in the direction of Louisville with orders to see that the +roads and bridges were not molested, so that the forces under Gen. +Buell would not be obstructed on the march to reinforce Gen. Grant. +This timely precaution enabled Gen. Buell to arrive at Pittsburg +Landing just in time to save Gen. Grant from probable defeat. For +three months after this battle Capt. Shelly's company was engaged in +protecting the long line of railroad from Columbus, Ky., to Corinth, +Miss. On the 25th of August, 1862, Fort Donalson was attacked by the +rebels and this regiment was ordered to its relief. This attack of the +rebels did not prove to be very serious, but on the 5th of February, +1863, the rebels under Forrest and Wheeler made a third attack on Fort +Donelson. They were forced to retire, leaving a large number of their +dead on the field, but fortunately none of the men under Capt. Shelly +were injured. Nearly the entire spring and summer of 1863 was spent in +scouring the country in the vicinity of the Tennessee river, sometimes +on guard duty, sometimes on the picket line and often in battle. They +were frequently days and nights without food or sleep, but ever kept +themselves in readiness for an attack from the wily foes. Opposed to +them were the commands of Forest and Wheeler, the very best cavalry +officers in the Confederate service. A number of severe actions ended +in the battle of Chickamauga, in which the First cavalry took a +prominent part. After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was kept +on duty on the dividing line between the two forces. About the 1st +of January, 1864, most of Capt. Shelly's company reinlisted and they +returned home on a thirty days' furlough. After receiving a number +of recruits at Fort Snelling, the command, on the 14th of May, 1864, +received orders to report to Gen. Sully at Sioux City, who was +preparing to make a final campaign against the rebellious Sioux. On +the 28th of June the expedition started on its long and weary march +over the plains of the Dakotas toward Montana. It encountered the +Indians a number of times, routing them, and continued on its way. +About the middle of August the expedition entered the Bad Lands, and +the members were the first white men to traverse that unexplored +region. In the fall the battalion returned to Fort Ridgley, where +they went into winter quarters, having marched over 3,000 miles since +leaving Fort Snelling. Capt. Shelly was mustered out of the service in +the spring of 1865, and since that time, until within a few years, has +been engaged at his old profession. + +Capt. Shelly was almost painfully modest, seldom alluding to the many +stirring events with which he had been an active participant, and it +could well be said of him, as Cardinal Wolsey said of himself, that +"had he served his God with half the zeal he has served his country, +he would not in his old age have forsaken him." Political preferment +and self-assurance keep some men constantly before the public eye, +while others, the men of real merit, who have spent the best part of +their lives in the service of their country, are often permitted by an +ungrateful community to go down to their graves unhonored and unsung. + + * * * * * + +OTHER PRINTERS IN THE CIVIL WAR. + +Capt. Henry C. Coates was foreman of the job department of the Pioneer +office. He was an officer in the Pioneer Guards, and when the war +broke out was made a lieutenant in the First regiment, was in all the +battles of that famous organization up to and including Gettysburg; +was commander of the regiment for some time after the battle. After +the war he settled in Philadelphia, where he now resides. + +Jacob J. Noah at one time set type, with Robert Bonner. He was elected +clerk of the supreme court at the first election of state officers; +was captain of Company K Second Minnesota regiment, but resigned early +in the war and moved to New York City, his former home. + +Frank H. Pratt was an officer in the Seventh regiment and served +through the war. He published a paper at Taylor's Falls at one time. +After the war he was engaged in the mercantile business in St. Paul. + +John C. Devereux was foreman of the old Pioneer and was an officer in +the Third regiment, and still resides in the city. + +Jacob T. McCoy was an old-time typo and worked in all the St. Paul +offices before and after the rebellion. Mr. McCoy was a fine singer +and his voice was always heard at typographical gatherings. He +enlisted as private in the Second Minnesota and served more than four +years, returning as first lieutenant. He now resides in Meadeville, +Pa. + +Martin Williams was printer, editor, reporter and publisher, both +before and after the war. He was quartermaster of the Second Minnesota +cavalry. + +Robert P. Slaughter and his brother, Thomas Slaughter, were both +officers in the volunteer service and just previous to the rebellion +were engaged in the real estate business. + +Edward Richards was foreman of the Pioneer and Minnesotian before the +war and foreman of the old St. Paul Press after the war. He enlisted +during the darkest days of the rebellion in the Eighth regiment and +served in the dual capacity of correspondent and soldier. No better +soldier ever left the state. He was collector of customs of the port +of St. Paul under the administration of Presidents Garfield and +Arthur, and later was on the editorial staff of the Pioneer Press. + +The most remarkable compositor ever in the Northwest, if not in the +United States, was the late Charles R. Stuart. He claimed to be a +lineal descendant of the royal house of Stuart. For two years in +succession he won the silver cup in New York city for setting more +type than any of his competitors. At an endurance test in New York he +is reported to have set and distributed 26,000 ems solid brevier in +twenty-four hours. He was originally from Detroit. In the spring of +1858 he wandered into the Minnesotian office and applied for work. The +Minnesotian was city printer and was very much in need of some one +that day to help them out. Mr. Stuart was put to work and soon +distributed two cases of type, and the other comps wondered what he +was going to do with it. After he had been at work a short time +they discovered that he would be able to set up all the type he had +distributed and probably more, too. When he pasted up the next morning +the foreman measured his string and remeasured it, and then went over +and took a survey of Mr. Stuart, and then went back and measured it +again. He then called up the comps, and they looked it over, but no +one could discover anything wrong with it. The string measured 23,000 +ems, and was the most remarkable feat of composition ever heard of in +this section of the country. It was no uncommon occurrence for Mr. +Stuart to set 2,000 ems of solid bourgeois an hour, and keep it up for +the entire day. Mr. Stuart's reputation as a rapid compositor spread +all over the city in a short time and people used to come to the +office to see him set type, with as much curiosity as they do now to +see the typesetting machine. In 1862 Mr. Stuart enlisted in the Eighth +regiment and served for three years, returning home a lieutenant. For +a number of years he published a paper at Sault Ste Marie, in which +place he died about five years ago. He was not only a good printer, +but a very forceful writer, in fact he was an expert in everything +connected with the printing business. + +E.S. Lightbourn was one of the old-time printers. He served three +years in the Seventh Minnesota and after the war was foreman of the +Pioneer. + +M.J. Clum is one of the oldest printers in St. Paul. He was born in +Rensselar county, New York, in 1832, and came to St. Paul in 1853. +He learned his trade in Troy, and worked with John M. Francis, late +minister to Greece, and also with C.L. McArthur, editor of the +Northern Budget. Mr. Clum was a member of Company D, Second Minnesota, +and took part in several battles in the early part of the rebellion. + +J.B. Chancy came to Minnesota before the state was admitted to the +Union. At one time he was foreman of a daily paper at St. Anthony +Falls. During the war he was a member of Berdan's sharpshooters, who +were attached to the First regiment. + +S J. Albright worked on the Pioneer in territorial days. In 1859 he +went to Yankton, Dak., and started the first paper in that territory. +He was an officer in a Michigan regiment during the rebellion. For +many years was a publisher of a paper in Michigan, and under the last +administration of Grover Cleveland was governor of Alaska. + +M.R. Prendergast, though not connected with the printing business +for some time, yet he is an old time printer, and was in the Tenth +Minnesota during the rebellion. + +A.J. Underwood was a member of Berdan's Sharp-shooters, and was +connected with a paper at Fergus Falls for a number of years. + +Robert V. Hesselgrave was employed in nearly all the St. Paul offices +at various times. He was lieutenant in the First Minnesota Heavy +Artillery, and is now engaged in farming in the Minnesota valley. + +William A. Hill came to St. Paul during the early '50s. He was a +member of the Seventh Minnesota. + +Ole Johnson was a member of the First Minnesota regiment, and died in +a hospital in Virginia. + +William F. Russel, a compositor on the Pioneer, organized a company of +sharpshooters in St. Paul, and they served throughout the war in the +army of the Potomac. + +S. Teverbaugh and H.I. Vance were territorial printers, and were both +in the army, but served in regiments outside the state. + +There were a large number of other printers in the military service +during the civil war, but they were not territorial printers and their +names are not included in the above list. + +TERRITORIAL PRINTERS IN CIVIL LIFE. + +One of the brightest of the many bright young men who came to +Minnesota at an early day was Mr. James Mills. For a time he worked on +the case at the old Pioneer office, but was soon transferred to the +editorial department, where he remained for a number of years. After +the war he returned to Pittsburgh, his former home, and is now and for +a number of years has been editor-in-chief of the Pittsburgh Post. + +Among the numerous printers of St. Paul who were musically inclined +no one was better known than the late O.G. Miller. He belonged to the +Great Western band, and was tenor singer in several churches in the +city for a number of years. Mr. Miller was a 33d Degree Mason, and +when he died a midnight funeral service was held for him in Masonic +hall, the first instance on record of a similar service in the city. + +George W. Moore came to St. Paul in 1850, and for a short time was +foreman for Mr. Goodhue. In 1852 he formed a partnership with John P. +Owens in the publication of the Minnesotian. He sold his interest +in that paper to Dr. Foster in 1860, and in 1861 was appointed by +President Lincoln collector of the port of St. Paul, a position he +held for more than twenty years. + +Louis E. Fisher was one of God's noblemen. When he first came to St. +Paul he was foreman of the Commercial Advertiser. For a long time he +was one of the editors of the Pioneer, and also the Pioneer Press. He +was a staunch democrat and a firm believer in Jeffersonian simplicity. +At one time he was a candidate for governor on the democratic ticket. +Had it not been for a little political chicanery he would have been +nominated, and had he been elected would have made a model governor. + +George W. Armstrong was the Beau Brummel of the early printers. He +wore kid gloves when he made up the forms of the old Pioneer, and he +always appeared as if he devoted more attention to his toilet than +most of his co-laborers. He was elected state treasurer on the +democratic ticket in 1857, and at the expiration of his term of office +devoted his attention to the real estate business. + +Another old printer that was somewhat fastidious was James M. +Culver. He was the first delegate from St. Paul to the International +Typographical Union. Old members of the Sons of Malta will recollect +how strenuously he resisted the canine portion of the ceremony when +taking the third degree of that noble order. + +Who has not heard of David Ramaley? He is one of the best as well as +one of the best known printers in the Northwest. He has been printer, +reporter, editor, publisher and type founder. Although he has been +constantly in the harness for nearly fifty years, he is still active +and energetic and looks as if it might be an easy matter to round out +the century mark. + +H.O. Bassford, now of the Austin Register, was one of the fleetest and +cleanest compositers among the territorial printers. He was employed +on the Minnesotian. + +Francis P. McNamee occupied most all positions connected with the +printing business--printer, reporter, editor. He was a most estimable +man, but of very delicate constitution, and he has long since gone to +his reward. + +The genial, jovial face of George W. Benedict was for many years +familiar to most old-time residents. At one time he was foreman of the +old St. Paul Press. He is now editor and publisher of the Sauk Rapids +Sentinel. + +The old St. Paul Times had no more reliable man than the late Richard +Bradley. He was foreman of the job department of that paper, and held +the same position on the Press and Pioneer Press for many years. + +D.L. Paine was the author of the famous poem entitled "Who Stole Ben +Johnson's Spaces." He was employed in several of the St. Paul offices +previous to the rebellion. + +The late John O. Terry was the first hand pressman in St. Paul. +He formed a partnership with Col. Owens in the publication of the +Minnesotian. For a long time he was assistant postmaster of St. Paul, +and held several other positions of trust. + +J.B.H. Mitchell was a, member of the firm of Newson, Mitchell & Clum, +publishers of the Daily Times. For several years after the war he was +engaged as compositor in the St. Paul offices, and is now farming in +Northern Minnesota. + +Among the freaks connected with the printing business was a poet +printer by the name of Wentworth. He was called "Long Haired +Wentworth." + +Early in the war he enlisted in the First Minnesota regiment. When +Col. Gorman caught sight of him he ordered his hair cut. Wentworth +would not permit his flowing locks to be taken off, and he was +summarly dismissed from the service. After being ordered out of the +regiment he wrote several letters of doubtful loyalty and Secretary +Stanton had him arrested and imprisoned in Fort Lafayette with other +political prisoners. He never returned to Minnesota. + +Marshall Robinson was a partner of the late John H. Stevens in the +publication of the first paper at Glencoe. At one time he was a +compositor on the Pioneer, and the last heard from him he was state +printer for Nevada. + +Andrew Jackson Morgan was brought to St. Paul by the late Col. +D.A. Robertson and made foreman of the Democrat. He was a +printer-politician and possessed considerable ability. At one time he +was one of the editors of the Democrat. He was said to bear a striking +resemblance to the late Stephen A. Douglas, and seldom conversed with +any one without informing them of the fact. He was one of the original +Jacksonian Democrats, and always carried with him a silver dollar, +which he claimed was given him by Andrew Jackson when he was +christened. No matter how much Democratic principle Jack would consume +on one of his electioneering tours he always clung to the silver +dollar. He died in Ohio more than forty years ago, and it is said that +the immediate occasion of his demise was an overdose of hilarity. + +Another old timer entitled to a good position in the hilarity column +was J.Q.A. Ward, commonly known as Jack Ward. He was business manager +of the Minnesotian during the prosperous days of that paper. The first +immigration pamphlet ever gotten out in the territory was the product +of Jack's ingenuity. Jack created quite a sensation at one time by +marrying the daughter of his employer on half an hour's ball room +acquaintance. He was a very bright man and should have been one of the +foremost business men of the city, but, like many other men, he was +his own worst enemy. + +Another Jack that should not be overlooked was Jack Barbour. His +theory was that in case the fiery king interfered with your business +it was always better to give up the business. + +A.M. Carver was one of the best job printers in the country, and he +was also one of the best amateur actors among the fraternity. It was +no uncommon thing for the old time printers to be actors and actors to +be printers. Lawrence Barrett, Stuart Robson and many other eminent +actors were knights of the stick and rule. Frequently during the happy +distribution hour printers could be heard quoting from the dramatist +and the poet, and occasionally the affairs of church and state would +receive serious consideration, and often the subject would be handled +in a manner that would do credit to the theologian or the diplomat, +but modern ingenuity has made it probable that no more statesmen will +receive their diplomas from the composing room. Since the introduction +of the iron printer all these pleasantries have passed away, and the +sociability that once existed in the composing room will be known +hereafter only to tradition. + +The late William Jebb was one of the readiest debaters in the old +Pioneer composing room. He was well posted on all topics and was +always ready to take either side of a question for the sake of +argument. Possessing a command of language and fluency of speech that +would have been creditable to some of the foremost orators, he would +talk by the hour, and his occasional outbursts of eloquence often +surprised and always entertained the weary distributors. At one time +Jebb was reporter on the St. Paul Times. Raising blooded chickens +was one of his hobbies. One night some one entered his premises and +appropriated, a number of his pet fowls. The next day the Times had a +long account of his misfortune, and at the conclusion of his article +he hurled the pope's bull of excommunication at the miscreant. It was +a fatal bull and was Mr. Jebb's reportorial finish. + +A fresh graduate from the case at one time wrote a scurrilous +biography of Washington. The editor of the paper on which he was +employed was compelled to make editorial apology for its unfortunate +appearance. To make the matter more offensive the author on several +different occasions reproduced the article and credited its authorship +to the editor who was compelled to apologize for it. + +In two different articles on nationalities by two different young +printer reporters, one referred to the Germans as "the beer-guzzling +Dutch," and the other, speaking of the English said "thank the Lord we +have but few of them in our midst," caused the writers to be promptly +relegated back to the case. + +Bishop Willoughby was a well-known character of the early times. A +short conversation with him would readily make patent the fact that he +wasn't really a bishop. In an account of confirming a number of people +at Christ church a very conscientious printer-reporter said "Bishop +Willoughby administered the rite of confirmation," when he should have +said Bishop Whipple. He was so mortified at his unfortunate blunder +that he at once tendered his resignation. Of course it was not +accepted. + +Editors and printers of territorial times were more closely affiliated +than they are to-day. Meager hotel accommodations and necessity for +economical habits compelled many of them to work and sleep in the same +room. All the offices contained blankets and cots, and as morning +newspapers were only morning newspapers in name, the tired and weary +printer could sleep the sleep of the just without fear of disturbance. + +Nearly all the early editors were also printers. Earle S. Goodrich, +editor-in-chief of the Pioneer: Thomas Foster, editor of the +Minnesotian; T.M. Newson, editor of the Times, and John P. Owens, +first editor of the Minnesotian, were all printers. When the old Press +removed from Bridge Square in 1869 to the new building on the corner +of Third and Minnesota streets, Earle S. Goodrich came up into the +composing room and requested the privilege of setting the first type +in the new building. He was provided with a stick and rule and set +up about half a column of editorial without copy. The editor of the +Press, in commenting on his article, said it was set up as "clean as +the blotless pages of Shakespeare." In looking over the article the +next morning some of the typos discovered an error in the first line. + + + + +THE DECISIVE BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS. + +THE FIRST BATTLE DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN WHICH THE UNION FORCES SCORED +A DECISIVE VICTORY--THE SECOND MINNESOTA THE HEROES OF THE DAY--THE +REBEL GENERAL ZOLLICOFFER KILLED. + + +Every Minnesotian's heart swells with pride whenever mention is made +of the grand record of the volunteers from the North Star State in the +great struggle for the suppression of the rebellion. At the outbreak +of the war Minnesota was required to furnish one regiment, but so +intensely patriotic were its citizens that nearly two regiments +volunteered at the first call of the president. As only ten companies +could go in the first regiment the surplus was held in readiness for +a second call, which it was thought would be soon forthcoming. On the +16th of June, 1861, Gov. Ramsey received notice that a second regiment +would be acceptable, and accordingly the companies already organized +with two or three additions made up the famous Second Minnesota. H.P. +Van Cleve was appointed colonel, with headquarters at Fort Snelling. +Several of the companies were sent to the frontier to relieve +detachments of regulars stationed at various posts, but on the 16th of +October, 1861, the full regiment started for Washington. On reaching +Pittsburgh, however, their destination was changed to Louisville, at +which place they were ordered to report to Gen. W.T. Sherman, then in +command of the Department of the Cumberland, and they at once received +orders to proceed to Lebanon Junction, about thirty miles south of +Louisville. The regiment remained at this camp about six weeks before +anything occurred to relieve the monotony of camp life, although there +were numerous rumors of night attacks by large bodies of Confederates. +On the 15th of November, 1861, Gen. Buell assumed command of all the +volunteers in the vicinity of Louisville, and he at once organized +them into divisions and brigades. Early in December the Second +regiment moved to Lebanon, Ky., and, en route, the train was fired at. +At Lebanon the Second Minnesota, Eighteenth United States infantry, +Ninth and Thirty-fifth Ohio regiments were organized into a brigade, +and formed part of Gen. George H. Thomas' First division. On Jan. 1, +1862, Gen. Thomas started his troops on the Mill Springs campaign +and from the 1st to the 17th day of January, spent most of its time +marching under rain, sleet and through mud, and on the latter date +went into camp near Logan's Cross Roads, eight miles north of +Zollicoffer's intrenched rebel camp at Beech Grove. On the night of +Jan. 18, Company A was on picket duty. It had been raining incessantly +and was so dark that it was with difficulty that pickets could be +relieved. Just at daybreak the rebel advance struck the pickets of +the Union lines, and several musket shots rang out with great +distinctness, and in quick succession, it being the first rebel shot +that the boys had ever heard. Then all was quiet for a time. The +firing soon commenced again, nearer and more distinct than at first, +and thicker and faster as the rebel advance encountered the Union +pickets. The Second Minnesota had entered the woods and passing +through the Tenth Indiana, then out of ammunition and retiring and no +longer firing. The enemy, emboldened by the cessation and mistaking +its cause, assumed they had the Yanks on the run, advanced to the rail +fence separating the woods from the field just as the Second Minnesota +was doing the same, and while the rebels got there first, they were +also first to get away and make a run to their rear. But before +they ran their firing was resumed and Minnesotians got busy and the +Fifteenth Mississippi and the Sixteenth Alabama regiments were made +to feel that they had run up against something. To the right of the +Second were two of Kinney's cannon and to their right was the Ninth +Ohio. The mist and smoke which hung closely was too thick to see +through, but by lying down it was possible to look under the smoke and +to see the first rebel line, and that it was in bad shape, and back of +it and down on the low ground a second line, with their third line +on the high ground on the further side of the field. That the Second +Minnesota was in close contact with the enemy was evident all along +its line, blasts of fire and belching smoke coming across the fence +from Mississippi muskets. The contest was at times hand to hand--the +Second Minnesota and the rebels running their guns through the fence, +firing and using the bayonet when opportunity offered. The firing was +very brisk for some time when it was suddenly discovered that +the enemy had disappeared. The battle was over, the Johnnies had +"skedaddled," leaving their dead and dying on the bloody field. Many +of the enemy were killed and wounded, and some few surrendered. After +the firing had ceased one rebel lieutenant bravely stood in front +of the Second and calmly faced his fate. After being called on to +surrender he made no reply, but deliberately raised his hand and shot +Lieut. Stout through the body. He was instantly shot. His name proved +to be Bailie Peyton, son of one of the most prominent Union men in +Tennessee. Gen. Zollicoffer, commander of the Confederate forces, was +also killed in this battle. This battle, although a mere skirmish when +compared to many other engagements in which the Second participated +before the close of the war, was watched with great interest by the +people of St. Paul. Two full companies had been recruited in the city +and there was quite a number of St. Paulites in other companies of +this regiment. When it became known that a battle had been fought +in which the Second had been active participants, the relatives and +friends of the men engaged in the struggle thronged the newspaper +offices in quest of information regarding their safety. The casualties +in the Second Minnesota, amounted to twelve killed and thirty-five +wounded. Two or three days after the battle letters were received from +different members of the Second, claiming that they had shot Bailie +Payton and Zollicoffer. It afterward was learned that no one ever +knew who shot Peyton, and that Col. Fry of the Fourth Kentucky shot +Zollicoffer. Lieut. Tuttle captured Peyton's sword and still has it in +his possession. This sword has a historic record. It was presented to +Bailie Peyton by the citizens of New Orleans at the outbreak of the +Mexican war, and was carried by Col. Peyton during the entire war. +Col. Peyton was on Gen. Scott's staff at the close of the war, and +when Santa Anna surrendered the City of Mexico to Gen. Scott, Col. +Peyton was the staff officer designated by Scott to receive the +surrender of the city, carrying this sword by his side. It bears +this inscription: "Presented to Col. Bailie Peyton, Fifth Regiment +Louisiana Volunteer National Guards, by his friends of New Orleans. +His country required his services. His deeds will add glory to +her arms." There has been considerable correspondence between the +government and state, officials and the descendants of Col. Peyton +relative to returning this trophy to Col. Peyton's relatives, but so +far no arrangements to that effect have been concluded. + +It was reported by Tennesseeans at the time of the battle that young +Peyton was what was known as a "hoop-skirt" convert to the Confederate +cause. Southern ladies were decidedly more pronounced secessionists +than were the sterner sex, and whenever they discovered that one of +their chivalric brethren was a little lukewarm toward the cause of the +South they sent him a hoop skirt, which indicated that the recipient +was lacking in bravery. For telling of his loyalty to the Union he +was insulted and hissed at on the streets of Nashville, and when he +received a hoop skirt from his lady friends he reluctantly concluded +to take up arms against the country he loved so well. He paid the +penalty of foolhardy recklessness in the first battle in which he +participated. + +A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, who was an eye-witness +of the battle, gave a glowing description of the heroic conduct of the +Second Minnesota during the engagement. He said: "The success of the +battle was when the Second Minnesota and the Ninth Ohio appeared in +good order sweeping through the field. The Second Minnesota, from its +position in the column, was almost in the center of the fight, and in +the heaviest of the enemy's fire. They were the first troops that used +the bayonet, and the style with which they went into the fight is the +theme of enthusiastic comment throughout the army." + +It was the boast of Confederate leaders at the outbreak of the +rebellion that one regiment of Johnnies was equal to two or more +regiments of Yankees. After the battle of Mill Springs they had +occasion to revise their ideas regarding the fighting qualities of the +detested Yankees. From official reports of both sides, gathered after +the engagement was over, it was shown that the Confederate forces +outnumbered their Northern adversaries nearly three to one. + +The victory proved a dominant factor in breaking up the Confederate +right flank, and opened a way into East Tennessee, and by transferring +the Union troops to a point from which to menace Nashville made the +withdrawal of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston's troops from Bowling Green, +Ky., to Nashville necessary. + +Confederate loss, 600 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Union loss, +248 in killed and wounded. Twelve rebel cannon and caissons complete +were captured. Two hundred wagons with horses in harness were +captured, as were large quantities of ammunition, store and camp +equipments--in fact, the Union troops took all there was. + +Col. Fry's version of the killing of Zollicoffer is as follows: While +on the border of "old fields" a stranger in citizen clothes rode up by +his side, so near that he could have put his hand upon his shoulder, +and said: "Don't let us be firing on our own men. Those are our men," +pointing at the same time toward our forces. Col. Fry looked upon him +inquiringly a moment, supposing him to be one of his own men, after +which he rode forward not more than fifteen paces, when an officer +came dashing up, first recognizing the stranger and almost the same +instant firing upon Col. Fry. At the same moment the stranger wheeled +his horse, facing Col. Fry, when the colonel shot him in the breast. + +Gen. Zollicoffer was a prominent and influential citizen of Nashville +previous to the war, and stumped the state with Col. Peyton in +opposition to the ordinance of secession, but when Tennessee seceded +he determined to follow the fortunes of his state. The day before the +battle Gen. Zollicoffer made a speech to his troops in which he said +he would take them to Indiana or go to hell himself. He didn't go to +Indiana. + +The poet of the Fourth Kentucky perpetrated the following shortly +after the battle: + + "Old Zollicoffer is dead + And the last word he said: + I see a wild cat coming. + Up steps Col. Fry. + And he hit him in the eye + And he sent him to the happy land of Canaan. + Ho! boys, ho! + For the Union go! + Hip hurrah for the happy land of freedom." + +The loyal Kentuckians were in great glee and rejoiced over the +victory. It was their battle against rebel invaders from Tennessee, +Mississippi and Alabama, who were first met by their own troops of +Wolford's First cavalry and the Fourth Kentucky infantry, whose blood +was the first to be shed in defense of the Stars and Stripes; and +their gratitude went out to their neighbors from Minnesota, Indiana +and Ohio who came to their support and drove the invaders out of their +state. On Feb. 24, 1862, the Second Minnesota was again in Louisville, +where the regiment had admirers and warm friends in the loyal ladies, +who as evidence of their high appreciation, though the mayor of the +city, Hon. J.M. Dolph, presented to the Second regiment a silk flag. +The mayor said. "Each regiment is equally entitled to like honor, but +the gallant conduct of those who came from a distant state to unite +in subduing our rebel invaders excites the warmest emotions of our +hearts." + +On Jan. 25 President Lincoln's congratulations were read to the +regiment, and on Feb. 9, at Waitsboro, Ky., the following joint +resolution of the Minnesota legislature was read before the regiment: + + +Whereas, the noble part borne by the First regiment, Minnesota +infantry, in the battles of Bull Run and Ball's Bluff, Va., is +yet fresh in our minds; and, whereas, we have heard with equal +satisfaction the intelligence of the heroism displayed by the Second +Minnesota infantry in the late brilliant action at Mill Springs, Ky.: + +Therefore be it resolved by the legislature of Minnesota, That while +it was the fortune of the veteran First regiment to shed luster upon +defeat, it was reserved for the glorious Second regiment to add +victory to glory. + +Resolved, that the bravery of our noble sons, heroes whether in defeat +or victory, is a source of pride to the state that sent them forth, +and will never fail to secure to them the honor and the homage of the +government and the people. + +Resolved, That we sympathize with the friends of our slain soldiers, +claiming as well to share their grief as to participate in the renown +which the virtues and valor of the dead have conferred on our arms. + +Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, having the signature +of the executive and the great seal of the state, be immediately +forwarded by the governor to the colonels severally in command of +the regiments, to be by them communicated to their soldiers at dress +parade. + +The battle at Mill Springs was the first important victory achieved by +the Union army in the Southwest after the outbreak of the rebellion, +and the result of that engagement occasioned great rejoicing +throughout the loyal North. Although the battle was fought forty-five +years ago, quite a number of men engaged in that historic event +are still living in St. Paul, a number of them actively engaged in +business. Among the number are J.W. Bishop, J.C. Donahower, M.C. +Tuttle, R.A. Lanpher, M.J. Clum, William Bircher, Robert G. Rhodes, +John H. Gibbons, William Wagner, Joseph Burger, Jacob J. Miller, +Christian Dehn, William Kemper, Jacob Bernard, Charles F. Myer, +Phillip Potts and Fred Dohm. + + + + +THE GREAT BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING. + +A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST SANGUINARY BATTLES +OF THE CIVIL WAR--TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE--GALLANT ACTION OF THE FIRST +MINNESOTA BATTERY--DEATH OF CAPT. W.H. ACKER. + + +The battle of Pittsburg Landing on the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, was +one of the most terrific of the many great battles of the great Civil +war. It has been likened to the battle of Waterloo. Napoleon sought to +destroy the army of Wellington before a junction could be made with +Blucher. Johnston and Beauregard undertook to annihilate the Army of +the Tennessee, under Gen. Grant, before the Army of the Cumberland, +under Buell, could come to his assistance. At the second battle of +Bull Run Gen. Pope claimed that Porter was within sound of his guns, +yet he remained inactive. At Pittsburg Landing it was claimed by +military men that Gen. Buell could have made a junction with Grant +twenty-four hours sooner and thereby saved a terrible loss of life had +he chosen to do so. Both generals were subsequently suspended from +their commands and charges of disloyalty were made against them by +many newspapers in the North. Gen. Porter was tried by court-martial +and dismissed from the service. Many years after this decision was +revoked by congress and the stigma of disloyalty removed from his +name. Gen. Buell was tried by court-martial, but the findings of the +court were never made public. Gen. Grant did not think Gen. Buell +was guilty of the charges against him, and when he became +commander-in-chief of the army in 1864 endeavored to have him restored +to his command, but the war department did not seem inclined to do so. +About two weeks before the battle of Pittsburg Landing Gen. Grant +was suspended from the command of the Army of the Tennessee by Gen. +Halleck, but owing to some delay in the transmission of the order, an +order came from headquarters restoring him to his command before he +knew that he had been suspended. Gen. Grant's success at Fort Henry +and Fort Donelson made his superiors jealous of his popularity. He was +ordered arrested by Gen. McClellan, but the order was held up by the +war department until Gen. Grant could be heard from. The reason for +his arrest was that he went to Nashville to consult with Buell without +permission of the commanding general. Dispatches sent to Grant for +information concerning his command was never delivered to him, but +were delivered over to the rebel authorities by a rebel telegraph +operator, who shortly afterward joined the Confederate forces. + +Many years after the war Gen. Badeau, one of Grant's staff officers, +was in search of information for his "History of Grant's Military +Campaigns," and he unearthed in the archives of the war department the +full correspondence between Halleck, McClellan and the secretary of +war, and it was not until then that Gen. Grant learned the full extent +of the absurd accusations made against him. + +After the battle of Pittsburg Landing Gen. Halleck assumed personal +command of all the forces at that point and Gen. Grant was placed +second in command, which meant that he had no command at all. This +was very distasteful to Gen. Grant and he would have resigned his +commission and returned to St. Louis but for the interposition of his +friend, Gen. W.T. Sherman. Gen. Grant had packed up his belongings +and was about to depart when Gen. Sherman met him at his tent and +persuaded him to refrain. In a short time Halleck was ordered to +Washington and Grant was made commander of the Department of West +Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis. Gen. Grant's subsequent +career proved the wisdom of Sherman's entreaty. + +When Gen. Halleck assumed command he constructed magnificent +fortifications, and they were a splendid monument to his engineering +skill, but they were never occupied. He was like the celebrated king +of France, who "with one hundred thousand men, marched up the hill and +then down again." Gen. Halleck had under his immediate command more +than one hundred thousand well equipped men, and the people of +the North looked to him to administer a crushing blow to the then +retreating enemy. The hour had arrived--the man had not. + +"Flushed with the victory of Forts Henry and Donelson," said the +envious Halleck in a dispatch to the war department, previous to +the battle, "the army under Grant at Pittsburg Landing was more +demoralized than the Army of the Potomac after the disastrous defeat +of Bull Run." + + +Soon after the battle the venerable Gen. Scott predicted that the +war would soon be ended--that thereafter there would be nothing but +guerrilla warfare at interior points. Gen. Grant himself in his +memoirs says that had the victory at Pittsburg Landing been followed +up and the army been kept intact the battles at Stone River, +Chattanooga and Chickamauga would not have been necessary. + +Probably the battle of Pittsburg Landing was the most misunderstood +and most misrepresented of any battle occurring during the war. It +was charged that Grant was drunk; that he was far away from the +battleground when the attack was made, and was wholly unprepared to +meet the terrible onslaught of the enemy in the earlier stages of the +encounter. Gen. Beauregard is said to have stated on the morning +of the battle that before sundown he would water his horses in the +Tennessee river or in hell. That the rebels did not succeed in +reaching the Tennessee was not from lack of dash and daring on their +part, but was on account of the sturdy resistance and heroism of their +adversaries. According to Gen. Grant's own account of the battle, +though suffering intense pain from a sprained ankle, he was in the +saddle from early morning till late at night, riding from division to +division, giving directions to their commanding officers regarding the +many changes in the disposition of their forces rendered necessary +by the progress of the battle. The firm resistance made by the force +under his command is sufficient refutation of the falsity of the +charges made against him. Misunderstanding of orders, want of +co-operation of subordinates as well as superiors, and rawness of +recruits were said to have been responsible for the terrible slaughter +of the Union forces on the first day of the battle. + + * * * * * + +The battle of Pittsburg Landing is sometimes called the battle of +Shiloh, some of the hardest lighting having been done in the vicinity +of an old log church called the Church of Shiloh, about three miles +from the landing. + +The battle ground traversed by the opposing forces occupied a +semi-circle of about three and a half miles from the town of +Pittsburg, the Union forces being stationed in the form of a +semi-circle, the right resting on a point north of Crump's Landing, +the center being directly in front of the road to Corinth, and the +left extending to the river in the direction of Harrisburg--a small +place north of Pittsburg Landing. At about 2 o'clock on Sunday +morning, Col. Peabody of Prentiss' division, fearing that everything +was not right, dispatched a body of 400 men beyond the camp for the +purpose of looking after any body of men which might be lurking in +that direction. This step was wisely taken, for a half a mile advance +showed a heavy force approaching, who fired upon them with great +slaughter. This force taken by surprise, was compelled to retreat, +which they did in good order under a galling fire. At 6 o'clock the +fire had become general along the entire front, the enemy having +driven in the pickets of Gen. Sherman's division and had fallen with +vengeance upon three Ohio regiments of raw recruits, who knew nothing +of the approach of the enemy until they were within their midst. The +slaughter on the first approach of the enemy was very severe, scores +falling at every discharge of rebel guns. It soon became apparent that +the rebel forces were approaching in overwhelming numbers and there +was nothing left for them to do but retreat, which was done with +considerable disorder, both officers and men losing every particle of +their baggage, which fell into rebel hands. + + +At 8:30 o'clock the fight had become general, the second line of +divisions having received the advance in good order and made every +preparation for a suitable reception of the foe. At this time many +thousand stragglers, many of whom had never before heard the sound +of musketry, turned their backs to the enemy, and neither threats or +persuasion could induce them to turn back. The timely arrival of Gen. +Grant, who had hastened up from Savannah, led to the adoption of +measures that put a stop to this uncalled-for flight from the battle +ground. A strong guard was placed across the thoroughfare, with orders +to hault every soldier whose face was turned toward the river, and +thus a general stampede was prevented. At 10 o'clock the entire line +on both sides was engaged in one of the most terrible battles ever +known in this country. The roar of the cannon and musketry was without +intermission from the main center to a point extending halfway down +the left wing. The great struggle was most upon the forces which had +fallen back on Sherman's position. By 11 o'clock quite a number of the +commanders of regiments had fallen, and in some instances not a single +field officer remained; yet the fighting continued with an earnestness +that plainly showed that the contest on both sides was for death or +victory. The almost deafening sound of artillery and the rattle of +musketry was all that could be heard as the men stood silently and +delivered their fire, evidently bent on the work of destruction which +knew no bounds. Foot by foot the ground was contested, a single narrow +strip of open land dividing the opponents. Many who were maimed fell +back without help, while others still fought in the ranks until they +were actually forced back by their company officers. Finding it +impossible to drive back the center of our column, at 12 o'clock the +enemy slackened fire upon it and made a most vigorous effort on our +left wing, endeavoring to drive it to the river bank at a point about +a mile and a half above Pittsburg Landing. With the demonstration of +the enemy upon the left wing it was soon seen that all their fury was +being poured out upon it, with a determination that it should give +way. For about two hours a sheet of fire blazed both columns, the +rattle of musketry making a most deafening noise. For about an hour it +was feared that the enemy would succeed in driving our forces to the +river bank, the rebels at times being plainly seen by those on the +main landing below. While the conflict raged the hottest in this +quarter the gunboat Tyler passed slowly up the river to a point +directly opposite the enemy and poured in a broadside from her immense +guns. The shells went tearing and crashing through the woods, felling +trees in their course and spreading havoc wherever they fell. The +explosions were fearful, the shells falling far inland, and they +struck terror to the rebel force. Foiled in this attempt, they now +made another attack on the center and fought like tigers. They found +our lines well prepared and in full expectation of their coming. Every +man was at his post and all willing to bring the contest to a definite +conclusion. In hourly expectation of the arrival of reinforcements, +under Generals Nelson and Thomas of Buell's army, they made every +effort to rout our forces before the reinforcements could reach the +battle ground. They were, however, fighting against a wall of steel. +Volley answered volley and for a time the battle of the morning was +re-enacted on the same ground and with the same vigor on both sides. +At 5 o'clock there was a short cessation in the firing of the enemy, +their lines falling back on the center for about half a mile. They +again wheeled and suddenly threw their entire force upon the left +wing, determined to make the final struggle of the day in that +quarter. The gunboat Lexington in the meantime had arrived from +Savannah, and after sending a message to Gen. Grant to ascertain in +which direction the enemy was from the river, the Lexington and Tyler +took a position about half a mile above the river landing, and poured +their shells up a deep ravine reaching to the river on the right. +Their shots were thick and fast and told with telling effect. In the +meantime Gen. Lew Wallace, who had taken a circuitous route from +Crump's Landing, appeared suddenly on the left wing of the rebels. In +face of this combination the enemy felt that their bold effort was for +the day a failure and as night was about at hand, they slowly fell +back, fighting as they went, until they reached an advantageous +position, somewhat in the rear, yet occupying the main road to +Corinth. The gunboats continued to send their shells after them until +they were far beyond reach. This ended the engagement for the day. +Throughout the day the rebels evidently had fought with the Napoleonic +idea of massing their entire force on weak points of the enemy, with +the intention of braking through their lines, creating a panic and +cutting off retreat. + + +The first day's battle, though resulting in a terrible loss of Union +troops, was in reality a severe disappointment to the rebel leaders. +They fully expected, with their overwhelming force to annihilate +Grant's army, cross the Tennessee river and administer the same +punishment to Buell, and then march on through Tennessee, Kentucky and +into Ohio. They had conceived a very bold movement, but utterly failed +to execute it. + +Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, commander of the Confederate forces, +was killed in the first day's battle, being shot while attempting to +induce a brigade of unwilling Confederates to make a charge on the +enemy. + +Gen. Buell was at Columbia, Tenn., on the 19th of March with a veteran +force of 40,000 men, and it required nineteen days for him to reach +the Tennessee river, eighty-five miles distant, marching less than +five miles a day, notwithstanding the fact that he had been ordered to +make a junction with Grant's forces as soon as possible, and was well +informed of the urgency of the situation. + +During the night steamers were engaged in carrying the troops of +Nelson's division across the river. As soon as the boats reached the +shore the troops immediately left, and, without music, took their way +to the advance of the left wing of the Union forces. They had come up +double quick from Savannah, and as they were regarded as veterans, the +greatest confidence was soon manifest as to the successful termination +of the battle. With the first hours of daylight it was evident that +the enemy had also been strongly reinforced, for, notwithstanding they +must have known of the arrival of new Union troops, they were first to +open the ball, which they did with considerable alacrity. The attacks +that began came from the main Corinth road, a point to which they +seemed strongly attached, and which at no time did they leave +unprotected. Within half an hour from the first firing in the morning +the contest then again spread in either direction, and both the main +and left wings were not so anxious to fight their way to the river +bank as on the previous day, having a slight experience of what they +might expect if again brought under the powerful guns of the Tyler and +Lexington. They were not, however, lacking in activity, and they +were met by our reinforced troops with an energy that they did not +anticipate. At 9 o'clock the sound of the artillery and musketry fully +equaled that of the day before. It now became evident that the rebels +were avoiding our extreme left wing, and were endeavoring to find a +weak point in our line by which they could turn our force and thus +create a panic. They left one point but to return to it immediately, +and then as suddenly would direct an assault upon a division where +they imagined they would not be expected. The fire of the united +forces was as steady as clockwork, and it soon became evident that +the enemy considered the task they had undertaken a hopeless one. +Notwithstanding continued repulses, the rebels up to 11 o'clock had +given no evidence of retiring from the field. Their firing had been as +rapid and vigorous at times as during the most terrible hours of +the previous day. Generals Grant, Buell, Nelson and Crittenden were +present everywhere directing the movements on our part for a new +strike against the foe. Gen. Lew Wallace's division on the right had +been strongly reinforced, and suddenly both wings of our army were +turned upon the enemy, with the intention of driving the immense body +into an extensive ravine. At the same time a powerful battery had been +stationed upon an open field, and they poured volley after volley into +the rebel ranks and with the most telling effect. At 11:30 o'clock the +roar of battle almost shook the earth, as the Union guns were being +fired with all the energy that the prospect of ultimate victory +inspired. The fire from the enemy was not so vigorous and they began +to evince a desire to withdraw. They fought as they slowly moved back, +keeping up their fire from their artillery and musketry, apparently +disclaiming any notion that they thought of retreating. As they +retreated they went in excellent order, halting at every advantageous +point and delivering their fire with considerable effect. At noon it +was settled beyond dispute that the rebels were retreating. They were +making but little fire, and were heading their center column for +Corinth. From all divisions of our lines they were closely pursued, +a galling fire being kept up on their rear, which they returned at +intervals with little or no effect. From Sunday morning until Monday +noon not less than three thousand cavalry had remained seated In their +saddles on the hilltop overlooking the river, patiently awaiting the +time when an order should come for them to pursue the flying enemy. +That time had now arrived and a courier from Gen. Grant had scarcely +delivered his message before the entire body was in motion. The wild +tumult of the excited riders presented a picture seldom witnessed on a +battlefield. Gen. Grant himself led the charge. + + * * * * * + +Gen. Grant, in his memoirs, summarizes the results of the two days' +fighting as follows: "I rode forward several miles the day of the +battle and found that the enemy had dropped nearly all of their +provisions and other luggage in order to enable them to get off with +their guns. An immediate pursuit would have resulted in the capture +of a considerable number of prisoners and probably some guns...." The +effective strength of the Union forces on the morning of the 6th was +33,000 men. Lew Wallace brought 5,000 more after nightfall. Beauregard +reported the rebel strength at 40,955. Excluding the troops who fled, +there was not with us at any time during the day more than 25,000 men +in line. Our loss in the two days' fighting was 1,754 killed, 8,408 +wounded and 2,885 missing. Beauregard reported a total loss of 10,699, +of whom 1,728 were killed, 8,012 wounded and 957 missing. + + +On the first day of the battle Gen. Prentiss, during a change of +position of the Union forces, became detached from the rest of the +troops, and was taken prisoner, together with 2,200 of his men. Gen. +W.H.L. Wallace, division commander, was killed in the early part of +the struggle. + +The hardest fighting during the first day was done in front of the +divisions of Sherman and McClernand. "A casualty to Sherman," says +Gen. Grant, "that would have taken him from the field that day would +have been a sad one for the Union troops engaged at Shiloh. And how +near we came to this! On the 6th Sherman was shot twice, once in the +hand, once in the shoulder, the ball cutting his coat and making a +slight wound, and a third ball passed through his hat. In addition to +this he had several horses shot during the day." + +During the second day of the battle Gen. Grant, Col. McPherson and +Maj. Hawkins got beyond the left of our troops. There did not appear +to be an enemy in sight, but suddenly a battery opened on them from +the edge of the woods. They made a hasty retreat and when they were +at a safe distance halted to take an account of the damage. In a few +moments Col. McPherson's horse dropped dead, having been shot just +back of the saddle. A ball had passed through Maj. Hawkins' hat and a +ball had struck the metal of Gen. Grant's sword, breaking it nearly +off. + +On the first day of the battle about 6,000 fresh recruits who had +never before heard the sound of musketry, fled on the approach of the +enemy. They hid themselves on the river bank behind the bluff, and +neither command nor persuasion could induce them to move. When Gen. +Buell discovered them on his arrival he threatened to fire on them, +but it had no effect. Gen. Grant says that afterward those same men +proved to be some of the best soldiers in the service. + +Gen. Grant, in his report, says he was prepared with the +reinforcements of Gen. Lew Wallace's division of 5,000 men to assume +the offensive on the second day of the battle, and thought he could +have driven the rebels back to their fortified position at Corinth +without the aid of Buell's army. + + * * * * * + +At banquet hall, regimental reunion or campfire, whenever mention is +made of the glorious record of Minnesota volunteers in the great Civil +war, seldom, if ever, is the First Minnesota battery given credit +for its share in the long struggle. Probably very few of the present +residents of Minnesota are aware that such an organization existed. +This battery was one of the finest organizations that left the state +during the great crisis. It was in the terrible battle of Pittsburg +Landing, the siege of Vicksburg, in front of Atlanta and in the great +march from Atlanta to the sea, and in every position in which they +were placed they not only covered themselves with glory, but they were +an honor and credit to the state that sent them. The First Minnesota +battery, light artillery, was organized at Fort Snelling in the fall +of 1861, and Emil Munch was made its first captain. Shortly after +being mustered in they were ordered to St. Louis, where they received +their accoutrements, and from there they were ordered to Pittsburg +Landing, arriving at the latter place late in February, 1862. The day +before the battle, they were transferred to Prentiss' division of +Grant's army. On Sunday morning, April 6, the battery was brought out +bright and early, preparing for inspection. About 7 o'clock great +commotion was heard at headquarters, and the battery was ordered to be +ready to march at a moment's notice. In about ten minutes they were +ordered to the front, the rebels having opened fire on the Union +forces. In a very short time rebel bullets commenced to come thick and +fast, and one of their number was killed and three others wounded. It +soon became evident that the rebels were in great force in front +of the battery, and orders were issued for them to choose another +position. At about 11 o'clock the battery formed in a new position +on an elevated piece of ground, and whenever the rebels undertook to +cross the field in front of them the artillery raked them down with +frightful slaughter. Several times the rebels placed batteries In the +timber at the farther end of the field, but in each instance the +guns of the First battery dislodged them before they could get into +position. For hours the rebels vainly endeavored to break the lines +of the Union forces, but in every instance they were repulsed with +frightful loss, the canister mowing them down at close range. About 5 +o'clock the rebels succeeded in flanking Gen. Prentiss and took part +of his force prisoners. The battery was immediately withdrawn to an +elevation near the Tennessee river, and it was not long before firing +again commenced and kept up for half an hour, the ground fairly +shaking from the continuous firing on both sides of the line. At +about 6 o'clock the firing ceased, and the rebels withdrew to a safe +distance from the landing. The casualties of the day were three killed +and six wounded, two of the latter dying shortly afterward. The fight +at what was known as the "hornet's nest" was most terrific, and had +not the First battery held out so heroically and valiantly the rebels +would have succeeded in forcing a retreat of the Union lines to a +point dangerously near the Tennessee river. Capt. Munch's horse +received a bullet In his head and fell, and the captain himself +received a wound in the thigh, disabling him from further service +during the battle. After Capt. Munch was wounded Lieut. Pfaender took +command of the battery, and he had a horse shot from under him during +the day. On the morning of April 7, Gen. Buell having arrived, the +battery was held in reserve and did not participate in the battle +that day. The First battery was the only organization from Minnesota +engaged in the battle, and their conduct in the fiercest of the +struggle, and in changing position in face of fire from the whole +rebel line, was such as to receive the warmest commendation from the +commanding officer. It was the first battle in which they had taken +part, and as they had only received their guns and horses a few weeks +before, they had not had much opportunity for drill work. Their +terrible execution at critical times convinced the rebels that they +had met a foe worthy of their steel. + + * * * * * + +Among the many thousands left dead and dying on the blood-stained +field of Pittsburg Landing there was one name that was very dear in +the hearts of the patriotic people of St. Paul,--a name that was as +dear to the people of St. Paul as was the memory of the immortal +Ellsworth to the people of Chicago. Capt. William Henry Acker, while +marching at the head of his company, with uplifted sword and with +voice and action urging on his comrades to the thickest of the fray, +was pierced in the forehead by a rebel bullet and fell dead upon the +ill-fated field. + +Before going into action Capt. Acker was advised by his comrades not +to wear his full uniform, as he was sure to be a target for rebel +bullets, but the captain is said to have replied that if he had to die +he would die with his harness on. Soon after forming his command into +line, and when they had advanced only a few yards, he was singled out +by a rebel sharpshooter and instantly killed--the only man in the. +company to receive fatal injuries. "Loved, almost adored, by the +company," says one of them, writing of the sad event, "Capt. Acker's +fall cast a deep shadow of gloom over his command." It was but for +a moment. With a last look at their dead commander, and with the +watchword 'this for our captain,' volley after volley from their guns +carried death into the ranks of his murderers. From that moment but +one feeling seemed to possess his still living comrades--that of +revenge for the death of their captain. How terribly they carried out +that purpose the number of rebel slain piled around the vicinity of +his body fearfully attest. + +The announcement of the death of Capt. Acker was a very severe blow to +his relatives and many friends in this city. No event thus far in the +history of the Rebellion had brought to our doors such a realizing +sense of the sad realities of the terrible havoc wrought upon the +battlefield. A noble life had been sacrificed in the cause of +freedom--one more name had been added to the long death roll of the +nation's heroes. + +Capt. Acker was born a soldier--brave, able, popular and +courteous--and had he lived would undoubtedly been placed high in rank +long before the close of the rebellion. No person ever went to the +front in whom the citizens of St. Paul had more hope for a brilliant +future. He was born in New York State in 1833, and was twenty-eight +years of age at the time of his death. He came to St. Paul in 1854 and +commenced the study of law in the office of his brother-in-law, Hon. +Edmund Rice. He did not remain long in the law business, however, but +soon changed to a position in the Bank of Minnesota, which had just +been established by ex-Gov. Marshall. For some time he was captain of +the Pioneer Guards, a company which he was instrumental in forming, +and which was the finest military organization in the West at +that time. In 1860 he was chosen commander of the Wide-Awakes, a +marching-club, devoted to the promotion of the candidacy of Abraham +Lincoln, and many of the men he so patiently drilled during that +exciting campaign became officers in the volunteer service in that +great struggle that soon followed. Little did the captain imagine at +that time that the success of the man whose cause he espoused would so +soon be the means of his untimely death. At the breaking out of the +war Capt. Acker was adjutant general of the State of Minnesota, but he +thought he would be of more use to his country in active service and +resigned that position and organized a company for the First Minnesota +regiment, of which he was made captain. At the first battle of Bull +Run he was wounded, and for his gallant action was made captain in +the Seventeenth United States Regulars, an organization that had +been recently created by act of congress. The Sixteenth regiment was +attached to Buell's army, and participated in the second day's battle, +and Cat. Acker was one of the first to fall on that terrible day, +being shot in the identical spot in the forehead where he was wounded +at the first battle of Bull Run. As soon as the news was received in +St. Paul of the captain's death his father, Hon. Henry Acker, left for +Pittsburg Landing, hoping to be able to recover the remains of his +martyred son and bring the body back to St. Paul. His body was easily +found, his burial place having been carefully marked by members of the +Second Minnesota who arrived on the battleground a short time after +the battle. When the remains arrived in St. Paul they were met at +the steamboat landing by a large number of citizens and escorted to +Masonic hall, where they rested till the time of the funeral. The +funeral obsequies were held at St. Paul's church on Sunday, May 4, +1862, and were attended by the largest concourse of citizens that +had ever attended a funeral in St. Paul, many being present from +Minneapolis, St. Anthony and Stillwater. The respect shown to the +memory of Capt. Acker was universal, and of a character which fully +demonstrated the high esteem in which he was held by the people of St. +Paul. + +When the first Grand Army post was formed in St. Paul a name +commemorative of one of Minnesota's fallen heroes was desired for the +organization. Out of the long list of martyrs Minnesota gave to the +cause of the Union no name seemed more appropriate than that of the +heroic Capt. Acker, and it was unanimously decided that the first +association of Civil war veterans in this city should be known as +Acker post. + + +THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. + + * * * * * + +The terrible and sensational news that Abraham Lincoln had been +assassinated, which was flashed over the wires on the morning of +April 15, 1865 (forty years ago yesterday), was the most appalling +announcement that had been made during the long crisis through which +the country had just passed. Every head was bowed in grief. No tongue +could find language sufficiently strong to express condemnation of the +fiendish act. The entire country was plunged in mourning. It was not +safe for any one to utter a word against the character of the martyred +president. At no place in the entire country was the terrible calamity +more deeply felt than in St. Paul. All public and private buildings +were draped in mourning. Every church held memorial services. The +services at the little House of Hope church on Walnut street will long +be remembered by all those who were there. The church was heavily +draped in mourning. It had been suddenly transformed from a house of +hope to a house of sorrow, a house of woe. The pastor of the church +was the Rev. Frederick A. Noble. He was one of the most eloquent and +learned divines in the city--fearless, forcible and aggressive--the +Henry Ward Beecher of the Northwest. President Lincoln was his ideal +statesman. + +The members of the House of Hope were intensely patriotic. Many of +their number were at the front defending their imperiled country. +Scores and scores of times during the desperate conflict had the +eloquent pastor of this church delivered stirring addresses favoring +a vigorous prosecution of the war. During the darkest days of the +Rebellion, when the prospect of the final triumph of the cause of the +Union seemed furthest off, Mr. Noble never faltered; he believed that +the cause was just and that right would finally triumph. When the +terrible and heart-rending news was received that an assassin's bullet +had ended the life of the greatest of all presidents the effect was +so paralyzing that hearts almost ceased beating. Every member of the +congregation felt as if one of their own household had been suddenly +taken from them. The services at the church on the Sunday morning +following the assassination were most solemn and impressive. The +little edifice was crowded almost to suffication, and when the pastor +was seen slowly ascending the pulpit, breathless silence prevailed. He +was pale and haggard, and appeared to be suffering great mental agony. +With bowed head and uplifted hands, and with a voice trembling with +almost uncontrollable emotion, he delivered one of the most fervent +and impressive invocations ever heard by the audience. Had the dead +body of the president been placed in front of the altar, the solemnity +of the occasion could not have been greater. In the discourse that +followed, Mr. Noble briefly sketched the early history of the +president, and then devoted some time to the many grand deeds he had +accomplished during the time he had been in the presidential chair. +For more than four years he had patiently and anxiously watched the +progress of the terrible struggle, and now, when victory was in sight, +when it was apparent to all that the fall of Richmond, the surrender +of Lee and the probable surrender of Johnston would end the long war, +he was cruelly stricken down by the hand of an assassin. "With malice +towards none and with charity to all, and with firmness for the right, +as God gives us to see the right," were utterances then fresh from the +president's lips. To strike down such a man at such a time was indeed +a crime most horrible. There was scarcely a dry eye in the audience. +Men and women alike wept. It was supposed at the time that Secretary +of State Seward had also fallen a victim of the assassin's dagger. +It was the purpose of the conspirators to murder the president, vice +president and entire cabinet, but in only one instance did the attempt +prove fatal. Secretary Seward was the foremost statesmen of the +time. His diplomatic skill had kept the country free from foreign +entanglements during the long and bitter struggle. He, too, was +eulogized by the minister, and it rendered the occasion doubly +mournful. + +Since that time two other presidents have been mercilessly slain by +the hand of an assassin, and although the shock to the country was +terrible, it never seemed as if the grief was as deep and universal +as when the bullet fired by John Wilkes Booth pierced the temple of +Abraham Lincoln. + + + + +AN ALLEGORICAL HOROSCOPE + + * * * * * + +IN TWO CHAPTERS. + + * * * * * + +CHAPTER I.--AN OPTIMISTIC FORECAST. + +As the sun was gently receding in the western horizon on a beautiful +summer evening nearly a century ago, a solitary voyageur might have +been seen slowly ascending the sinuous stream that stretches from the +North Star State to the Gulf of Mexico. He was on a mission of peace +and good will to the red men of the distant forest. On nearing the +shore of what is now a great city the lonely voyageur was amazed +on discovering that the pale face of the white man had many years +preceded him. "What, ho!" he muttered to himself; "methinks I see a +paleface toying with a dusky maiden. I will have speech with him." On +approaching near where the two were engaged in some weird incantation +the voyageur overheard the dusky maiden impart a strange message to +the paleface by her side. "From the stars I see in the firmament, the +fixed stars that predominate in the configuration, I deduce the future +destiny of man. 'Tis with thee. O Robert, to live always. This elixer +which I now do administer to thee has been known to our people for +countless generations. The possession of it will enable thee to +conquer all thine enemies. Thou now beholdest, O Robert, the ground +upon which some day a great city will be erected. Thou art destined to +become the mighty chief of this great metropolis. Thy reign will be +long and uninterrupted. Thou wert born when the conjunction of the +planets did augur a life of perfect beatitude. As the years roll +away the inhabitants of the city will multiply with great rapidity. +Questions of great import regarding the welfare of the people will +often come before thee for adjustment. To be successful In thy calling +thou must never be guilty of having decided convictions on any +subject, as thy friends will sometimes be pitted against each other in +the advocacy of their various schemes. Thou must not antagonize either +side by espousing the other's cause, but must always keep the rod and +the gun close by thy side, so that when these emergencies arise and +thou doth scent danger in the air thou canst quietly withdraw from the +scene of action and chase the festive bison over the distant prairies +or revel in piscatorial pleasure on the placid waters of a secluded +lake until the working majority hath discovered some method of +relieving thee of the necessity of committing thyself, and then, O +Robert. thou canst return and complacently inform the disappointed +party that the result would have been far different had not thou been +called suddenly away. Thou canst thus preserve the friendship of all +parties, and their votes are more essential to thee than the mere +adoption of measures affecting the prosperity of thy people. When the +requirements of the people of thy city become too great for thee alone +to administer to all their wants, the great family of Okons, the +lineal descendants of the sea kings from the bogs of Tipperary, will +come to thy aid. Take friendly counsel with them, as to incur their +displeasure will mean thy downfall. Let all the ends thou aimest at be +to so dispose of the offices within thy gift that the Okons, and the +followers of the Okons, will be as fixed in their positions as are the +stars in their orbits." + +After delivering this strange astrological exhortation the dusky +maiden slowly retreated toward the entrance of a nearby cavern, the +paleface meandered forth to survey the ground of his future greatness +and the voyageur resumed his lonely journey toward the setting sun. + + * * * * * + +CHAPTER II.--A TERRIBLE REALITY. + + +After the lapse of more than four score of years the voyageur from the +frigid North returned from his philanthropic visit to the red man. A +wonderful change met the eye. A transformation as magnificent as it +was bewildering had occurred. The same grand old bluffs looked proudly +down upon the Father of Water. The same magnificent river pursued +its unmolested course toward the boundless ocean. But all else had +changed. The hostile warrior no longer impeded the onward march of +civilization, and cultivated fields abounded on every side. +Steamers were hourly traversing the translucent waters of the great +Mississippi; steam and electricity were carrying people with the +rapidity of lightning in every direction; gigantic buildings appeared +on the earth's surface, visible in either direction as far as the +eye could reach; on every corner was a proud descendant of Erin's +nobility, clad in gorgeous raiment, who had been branded "St. Paul's +finest" before leaving the shores of his native land. In the midst of +this great city was a magnificent building, erected by the generosity +of its people, in which the paleface, supported on either side by the +Okons, was the high and mighty ruler. The Okons and the followers of +the Okons were in possession of every office within the gift of the +paleface. Floating proudly from the top of this great building was an +immense banner, on which was painted in monster letters the talismanic +words: "For mayor, 1902, Robert A. Smith," Verily the prophecy of the +dusky maiden had been fulfilled. The paleface had become impregnably +intrenched. The Okons could never be dislodged. + +With feelings of unutterable anguish at the omnipresence of the Okons, +the aged voyageur quietly retraced his footsteps and was never more +seen by the helpless and overburdened subjects of the paleface. + + + + +SPELLING DOWN A SCHOOL. + + * * * * * + +When I was about twelve years of age I resided in a small village in +one of the mountainous and sparsely settled sections of the northern +part of Pennsylvania. + +It was before the advent of the railroad and telegraph in that +locality. The people were not blessed with prosperity as it is known +to-day. Neither were they gifted with the intellectual attainments +possessed by the inhabitants of the same locality at the present time. +Many of the old men served in the war of 1812, and they were looked up +to with about the same veneration as are the heroes of the Civil War +to-day. It was at a time when the younger generation was beginning to +acquire a thirst for knowledge, but it was not easily obtained under +the peculiar conditions existing at that period. A school district +that was able to support a school for six months in each year was +indeed considered fortunate, but even in these the older children were +not permitted to attend during the summer months, as their services +were considered indispensable in the cultivation of the soil. + +Reading, writing and arithmetic were about all the studies pursued in +those rural school districts, although occasionally some of the better +class of the country maidens could be seen listlessly glancing over a +geography or grammar, but they were regarded as "stuck up," and the +other pupils thought they were endeavoring to master something far +beyond their capacity. + +Our winter school term generally commenced the first week in December +and lasted until the first week in March, with one evening set apart +each week for a spelling-match and recitation. We had our spelling +match on Saturday nights, and every four weeks we would meet with +schools in other districts in a grand spelling contest. I was +considered too young to participate in any of the joint spelling +matches, and my heart was heavy within me every time I saw a great +four-horse sleigh loaded with joyful boys and girls on their way to +one of the great contests. + +One Saturday night there was to be a grand spelling match at a country +crossroad about four miles from our village, and four schools were to +participate. As I saw the great sleigh loaded for the coming struggle +the thought occurred to me that if I only managed to secure a ride +without being observed I might in some way be able to demonstrate to +the older scholars that in spelling at least I was their equal. While +the driver was making a final inspection of the team preparatory to +starting I managed to crawl under his seat, where I remained as quiet +as mouse until the team arrived at the point of destination. I had not +considered the question of getting back--I left that to chance. As +soon as the different schools had arrived two of the best spellers +were selected to choose sides, and it happened that neither of them +was from our school. I stood in front of the old-fashioned fire-place +and eagerly watched the pupils as they took their places in the line. +They were drawn in the order of their reputation as spellers. When +they had finished calling the names I was still standing by the +fireplace, and I thought my chance was hopeless. The school-master +from our district noticed my woebegone appearance, and he arose from +his seat and said: + +"That boy standing by the fireplace is one of the best spellers in our +school." + +My name was then reluctantly called, and I took my place at the +foot of the column. I felt very grateful towards our master for his +compliment and I thought I would be able to hold my position in the +line long enough to demonstrate that our master was correct. The +school-master from our district was selected to pronounce the words, +and I inwardly rejoiced. + +After going down the line several times and a number of scholars had +fallen on some simple word the school-master pronounced the word +"phthisic." My heart leaped as the word fell from the school-master's +lips. It was one of my favorite hard words and was not in the spelling +book. It had been selected so as to floor the entire line in order to +make way for the exercises to follow. + +As I looked over the long line of overgrown country boys and girls I +felt sure that none of them would be able to correctly spell the word. +"Next!" "Next!" "Next!" said the school-master, and my pulse beat +faster and faster as the older scholars ahead of me were relegated to +their seats. + +At last the crucial time had come. I was the only one left standing. +As the school-master stood directly in front of me and said "Next," I +could see by the twinkle in his eye that he thought I could correctly +spell the word. My countenance had betrayed me. With a clear and +distinct voice loud enough to be heard by every one in the room +I spelled out "ph-th-is-ic--phthisic." "Correct," said the +school-master, and all the scholars looked aghast at my promptness. + +I shall never forget the kindly smile of the old school-master, as he +laid the spelling book upon the teacher's desk, with the quiet remark: +"I told you he could spell." I had spelled down four schools, and my +reputation as a speller was established. Our school was declared to +have furnished the champion speller of the four districts, and ever +after my name was not the last one to be called. + +On my return home I was not compelled to ride under the driver's seat. + + +HALF A CENTURY WITH THE PIONEER PRESS. + +Pioneer Press, April 18, 1908:--Frank Moore, superintendent of the +composing room if the Pioneer Press, celebrated yesterday the fiftieth +anniversary of his connection with the paper. A dozen of the old +employes of the Pioneer Press entertained Mr. Moore at an informal +dinner at Magee's to celebrate the unusual event. Mr. Moore's service +on the Pioneer Press, in fact, has been longer than the Pioneer +Press itself, for he began his work on one of the newspapers which +eventually was merged into the present Pioneer Press. He has held his +present position as the head of the composing room for about forty +years. + +Frank Moore was fifteen years old when he came to St. Paul from Tioga +county, Pa., where he was born. He came with his brother, George W. +Moore, who was one of the owners and managers of the Minnesotian. His +brother had been East and brought the boy West with him. Mr. Moore's +first view of newspaper work was on the trip up the river to St. Paul. +There had been a special election on a bond issue and on the way his +brother stopped at the various towns to got the election returns. + +Mr. Moore went to work for the Minnesotian on April 17, 1858, as a +printer's "devil." It is interesting in these days of water works and +telegraph to recall that among his duties was to carry water for the +office. He got it from a spring below where the Merchants hotel now +stands. Another of his jobs was to meet the boats. Whenever a steamer +whistled Mr. Moore ran to the dock to get the bundle of newspapers the +boat brought, and hurry with it back to the office. It was from these +papers that the editors got the telegraph news of the world. He also +was half the carrier staff of the paper. His territory covered all +the city above Wabasha street, but as far as he went up the hill +was College avenue and Ramsey street was his limit out West Seventh +street. There was no St. Paul worth mentioning beyond that. + +When the Press absorbed the Minnesotian in 1861, Mr. Moore went with +it, and when in 1874 the Press and Pioneer were united Mr. Moore +stayed with the merged paper. His service has been continuous, +excepting during his service as a volunteer in the Civil war. The +Pioneer Press, with its antecedents, has been his only interest. + +While Mr. Moore's service is notable for its length, it is still more +notable for the fact that he has grown with the paper, so that +to-day at sixty-five he is still filling his important position as +efficiently on a large modern newspaper as he filled it as a young man +when things in the Northwest, including its newspapers, were in the +beginning. Successive managements found that his services always gave +full value and recognized in him an employe of unusual loyalty and +devotion to the interests of the paper. Successive generations of +employes have found him always just the kind of man it is a pleasure +to have as a fellow workman. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER DAYS IN ST. +PAUL*** + + +******* This file should be named 10146.txt or 10146.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/4/10146 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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