Jamestown Weekly Alert, 1887-04-14, p.5

## Column 1 # BRIGHAM'S GUIDE. ### THE MORMON APOSTLE'S HISTORIC JOURNEY ACROSS THE ROCKIES. *A Veteran Frontiersman Tells How He Led the Mormon Chief Over the Mountains and Into the Valley of Salt Lake.* John Y. Nelson, the guide who in 1846 piloted Brigham Young and his flock across and over the Rocky mountains to the site of the Mormon capital, recently told one of the most interesting of the strange band of pioneer wanderings now depicted for the perils and pleasures of frontier life for the delectation of office customers with limitless bill. He was seated on a camp stool in one of the basement museums of the east side of the broad upper corridor at Madison Square Garden, at his side, a Sioux squaw squatted at his feet industriously stitching with shreds of buffalo tendon and beads; a boy of 13 stretched on a couch of deer skin in a corner; and a copper colored daughter of perhaps 19 busy with a pile of blankets in another corner. Others of their dusky companions occupied the passage outside with the purposes of the Towana or the Sioux and came at their white father's bidding to shake hands with the stranger. Wrinkled, aged, black haired, lithe and quick, the elements of savage life blended most curiously with a western civilization. There had been nine children of this marriage, the old man said; three being five were living, the eldest, a girl of 15, pursuing her studies in a Brooklyn primary school. To earn provision for their support and to entertain the winter's public was the loved means. IN THE FALL OF 1845. "It was in the fall of 1845, I think," Nelson began as he lit his pipe and shoved back his broad brimmed hat, "that at Cottonwood Springs, Neb., living with an old Mexican half breed, who knew every inch of the Rockies like a book. We were doing nothing in particular and getting plenty to eat, when Brigham come along and asked my Mexican friend and myself to be his guides across the Rockies, promising us good pay. He had four companions, Mormon elders, I think, but I cannot remember their names now; in all, a startling, with one emigrant wagon, one of them lined with silver mounted stuff and another full of provisions. They had left Winter Quarters. Brigham had any idea when he started out, where he was going, and when he would get back? It was a sort of prospecting trip, we traveled, and called each other 'brother,' and the old man was a good natured, jolly sort of fellow. He was not so much of a fanatic then, it was not the Sunday school, pious Joseph stuff. He could play a game of euchre. I would, and played a good hand at euchre. I was quite a young fellow in those days, and as the old Mexican didn't speak much English, Brigham did most of the talking to me and tried to convert me to Mormonism. Wife was away in Nebraska at the time. "Brigham was a great politician, wouldn't take much stock in his arguments defending polygamy, much. Joseph Smith had been introduced as a revelation among the saints. But Brigham was rather more of a man who was pretty firm in his opinion about it. He was fine company, personally. "We didn't hurry ourselves much, making ten or twelve miles a day, cooking at the wagons, pitching our tents for three or four nights and then going on in a hilly region where game was plenty and exploring the unknown plains beyond. I don't think we met a white man all the way across. There were lots of Indians, of course, and the Mormons who came into camp to trade off fresh meat or skins for provisions. One Christmas night we struck Ham's fork, in western Nebraska, when the temperature was forty, 1,000 miles. There we were snowed up until spring. SNOW FORTY FEET DEEP. "That was the longest, worst winter of the whole journey. I don't know where if had drifted over the canyon. But the snow was forty feet deep. Inside there was lots of game, and when we couldn't get out we trapped and hunted it. Our camp at Ham's fork was comfortable, although we had to burn all the oil, antelope and bear we could get. "When the spring was well enough established, we struck camp and started straight for the Rockies, another forty miles. Right up on the top of the mountain we found a beautiful spot by a living spring chock full of trout that kept anything in the nature of a pleasant time—it was about the altitude of 12,000 feet—all sorts of plants, and the flavor— The old man went into great ecstatic recollection of the gustatory gratification of forty years before over the trout. "Brigham was all the time spying out the lay of the land, and we looked from the top of the mountain over the level stretch of country with a beautiful range of mountains and peaks far to the west. We made our way down the mountain, crossed the Green river and meandered, and when we struck the water now known as salt Lake Brigham was very thoughtful and named it the Great Salt Lake. Then we were in Utah, 750 miles to the northwest and Brigham Young stepped out from the company in the valley and said: 'This is the place, this land has been revealed to me by the Great Spirit as a place of refuge. Here we will build the New Jerusalem.' "We stayed in the neighborhood about six weeks. Brigham staked out the place in that ground and I began on it and made a sort of map of it. Then Brigham went up Cottonwood Canon, which we had passed, to survey. Then Brigham and his friends went on to Nauvoo, Ill., and I went off on a deer hunt with my Indian friends. Next year Brigham took another party of Mormons over, and Salt Lake City was built on the very spot to which I had led him."—New York World Interview. ### An Erroneous Assumption. A member of the London Astronomical society has announced that the common assumption that a fragment of meteor must so large as a meteoroid need not give the brilliancy of a first magnitude star. He proceeds to give that brightness to a piece of matter about the size of which meteors are usually seen, would only be a mass of perhaps 35,000 candle power. It is therefore probable that the brilliancy of the meteors observed is about equal to the incandescent portion of a 100 candle power torch.—Boston Budget. The Governors of Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota have memorialized congress asking federal aid in the work of the suppression of contagious pleuropneumonia. --- ## Column 2 # ENGLISH PENNY-A-LINERS. ### How They Eke Out a Miserable Existence in London. Although this is the busy season of the year for the penny-a-liner, I met one of the craft the other day, whom I had known as a successful journalist, on the verge of starvation, and from what he told me of the profession I take it that "penny-a-lining" is not really so profitable a business as it is often supposed to be. Penny-a-lining is one of those professions for a beginning which apparently does not involve the expenditure of any very large capital—all that is required being, for a start being a certain number of "aliases" and "blanks" (this means a "plate" and an agile "style." Arrived with these, an ability to write slang and rapidly, and a knowledge of the Queen's English—say little of the latter—and you are "in the swim," able to go out into the quest of worlds—I had almost said bombs—to capture. He must be peculiarly appointed at discovering many in the field before him, and in comprehending and finding their way into the sub-editors' waste basket, while there are too many other lively bodies continually after the most interesting "copy." London is actually overrun with penny-a-liners and the press, who are, to a large extent, responsible for the work, and are the willing decay of assistant editors. All is fish that comes to the line of the free-lance. There are few public events which—to vary the metaphor—are not as "bones" for the hungry sub-editor. Accidents, fires, horrible murders, speeches by prominent men and last, but not invariably, not them conflagrations—all are material for the style and the "filler." Great is the liner where legimens are concerned. What he wants, it follows out of the sub-editorial chair, is a special license for week after week, in the full and regular reportage of events; and he will get the necessary monopoly of something very startling. London, for its part, is too big a city for the regular staff of any paper to properly cover, and all the journals of the metropolis are more or less dependent upon the penny-a-liner. Occasionally big men get to be scooped by the sub-editor when news is scarce and winter scanty. Liners may be divided into two classes. First, those who are regularly employed upon the staff of a small suburban paper, and who supplement the meager income which their position provides by systematic penny-a-"linesmanship" anything of sufficient importance. These liners are perhaps the best off, and happen to come across in their own district—their regular reports—as the most respectable half of the profession. The other class, which is composed of the out-and-out-about gentlemen, broken down hacks, more often than not out of work, are the least important. These are the men to whom the non-insertion of a note represents nothing less than a real; it is small wonder that sub-editors are now like men of straw. These penny-a-liner liners gather together in a bar parlor, and discuss their shortcomings over their pipes and whisky in a free and easy mood, and I noticed quite recently the first sub-editor of a liberal London journal found hanging in one of our parks, which horror was in great danger of being from rangers or police. Sunday papers go in very sharply for the sub-editors, there are too close an inquiry to be made into such a line case. The liners are found as a class upon a daily paper with an inner circle in which liners try to "run" one another into anything that promises them a little diverting. The rule of most papers in this country, like other quarters, do have their favorites, who are the envy of their less fortunate brethren.—Late Philadelphia Telegram. ### A Lawyer's Plain Living. A lawyer by profession, but a judge in one of the district courts of New York for twenty-three years, is noted for methodical, unswerving and perfect life and integrity. Long past 60, erect and vigorous and alert; he had been confined to his bed by sickness in a quarter of a century. His secret of health is as follows: after a close and weary examination of some of the court, which already fills several legal volumes and which will become more worthy of the universal regard than any other case of this kind, the long known Judge Blank, I once asked him his secret of good health. "My temperate habits," he said, "owe my salvation. I was a nervous youth, but my health was delicate. I never drank occasionally and was given to rich food. Some years having passed to the bar I found myself the victim of dyspepsia. I then made a careful study and then influence on mind and body. I experimented with many combinations and preparations, and found a correct regime. I have since followed inflexibly. After a late morning of earnest thought and trial, about for an hour or two and then walk to the restaurant, and perhaps thirty or three miles or more. Having previously had the room dark and taking a stay of the buildings and the open air, I have come back my judicial duties. The other day I said nothing but take a bite at six. At 6 o'clock I am through for the day. I eat no suppers. Each day however hot, cold or hot, finds the swinging my arms and playing a game, and then the long legal work is dismissed as utterly from my mind as if I never heard of it. I eat no sauces of any kind; no cream sauce, no hash, dishes, no Worcestershire sauce or anything else of pepper to flavor soups, cream or custards, and drink no wine. I have no desire for stimulant or gratification, feel no desire for intoxicating liquors, and make it a matter of principle. I get my food, eaten twice a day, no more, and eat it with care, and then to sleep at exactly what time I always have stated. But neither entreaty nor ridicule can move me from that system, and even a dish of ice cream cannot tempt me."—Good Housekeeping. ### A New Use for Pilot. An eastern man has discovered a process by the synthesis of some of the products of building ordinarily thought of as a burden. The discovery has also revealed the fact that the composition of an eastern xylolane. The process produces a beautiful pearlised composition, and will be used for making economic filing, lumber ordinarily required for the production of works of art. Its wonderful properties are already attracting great attention upon the part of those in the market. It has been found to be superior to all ordinary kinds of glass as a moderator-conductor, and its use in this direction bids fair to revolutionize.—New York Press. ### Emotion Made to Order. In all scenes requiring a blush, modern actresses usually swallow something just before the curtain rises, and produce it at the precise moment required by putting complexion powder.—Burlington Free Press. --- ## Column 3 ### STRIVING. I started on a lonely road, A few companions with me went; All I desired was some forward stride, But all on one high purpose bent; To live for success, finding truth, To do some good, to grow in grace, To consecrate our joyous youth To aims outside the common race. I turned aside and lingered long To drink at ease in some a stream; I mused, while listening to the song Of thrushes that the valley dream; Or paused beside some mossy wall, Or question from the thoughtless crowd; And still could not refrain to call The world's applause, coarse and loud. But still, though oft I held my way In fields my comrades have not known, Though art is long and little brief, Though seeds I've sown have not been shown, I would not lose the rapture sweet, The bitter taste of earlier years, Still would I climb with eager feet, Though coming height is bright appears. ### How He Lost His Value. A pale faced man with long, red hair and blue eyes and wearing back a la freckled face stood on the corner of Dearborn and Lake streets. "Say!" asked a man who stooped to look into the pale face, "are you a bonded ranger?" "Not exactly," was the hoarse, drawling reply. "Caught cold, I suppose?" "No, not exactly a cold." "What is the matter, then?" "Oh, I went too long into the lake and then I went in and got a little dangerous of the hospital. Money, clothes, shoes, everything are all gone. There is nothing in life for me. I am the ragged end of humanity—most discard of all creation." "Been 'stocking the tiger?'" "No excuse, my friend. There was a day when I drew $500 a month in legitimate and could put on as many hairs as the best. Look at me now—a fine specimen of the age of the grand old striped, side whiskered animal of the third flat from." "Pray, what do you mean?" "Why, sir, I am playing tiger in 'Theodore' at the Grand opera house. Haven't you heard me growl in the second scene of the second act? When the magnificent actress girl, come to my den in the vaults of the amphitheater? Those growls of mine are as true to nature as anything can be, but I get no credit for them. The newspaper critics say the stage carpenter has skill and the cave—I say my voice to the temple of the musses—artificial grove and growls all are 'stocking.' My voice and the grotto alike are in the department into which I may fling my homicidal canines."—Chicago Herald. ### What Makes a Cad? I hate a cad. Give me a villain and he is like a big button. Jump leap in the moral atmosphere. We can evade him. His own wicked triumph disfavors him, but who can abide the sling of one that presses upon you with soleless glitter that our eyes catch? Who knows when the cad will begin? climb a tree to get out of the way of a confiding worm? Ah, what true relief shelter one from mosquitoes? So, I reflect, I hate to think of what makes a cad! Laziness, baseness, soiled speech, a want of instinct clear in whatever has happened the social code, a tendency to the ear, disrespectful mention of women, greediness or a false note when there-estate—all these characteristics enter sharply into the making of a cad; but big bread, which is composed of flour, salt and butter, yet lacks yeast, so that the true character never attains perfection without the ingredient of inspiration, only a cad is spiked in a "pocket-bun" personality.—Amber in Chicago Journal. ### Short Furrows a Waste. Many calculations have been made to prove the waste of time consequent upon short furrows. On an average, it necessitates a pair of horses will plow an acre in the longest day of midsummer. On one hundred acre lots and with twenty, more than one acre will be plowed in a day; but on a small land one and one quarter acres. A considerable difference in the amount of the field plowed is accomplished by different horses and men, but the law holds good. With a furrow nine inches wide, exactly 6,400 furrows of that width make an acre. A quarter of a mile is 440 yards, and 6,400 yards, turning at the headland. Time and labor are actually expended on furrows the longest way of the field, as the number of turns is in proportion. ### A Washington Ambition. As to that intelligent comprehension and appreciation of another's efforts, that is stimulus and incitement of the author, it is finely manifested by the Washington correspondent of a western journal, who, when the curtain falls, but never interrupting the last noble passage in an aria with a wild and irrepressible burst of applause, reflected the immensity of his literary greatness complained that the audiences do not know enough of literature to applaud him— and he takes another liberal sip at the house.—Washington Letter. ### In the English Salt District. A movement has been in the intelligence of land taken place in the salt district near North Witch in England. The owners of the sinking land want the pumpers of brine to pay for the houses that are so much settled that they pump brine on their own land. "As to this," remarks the salt pumpers, "that it came down to this, we were afraid that nobody couldn't buy land with such a risk even for a shilling." ### Children Out at Night. There is another application which, at least in cities, is of great practical and supreme importance, addressing itself to both parents and to public officers chiefly. I refer to the practice of allowing children to run at night-hours and the streets, if in cities; or, if for the country, to stroll where there is nobody responsible. I would favor a rigid law to keep children away from parental inspection. If I owned a palace the destruction of my child sure I would give him unmatched food to dinner and then it would be a thing that will be so nearly the guarantee of a moral institution as to let him have the liberty of the streets at night.—Diary of a Nurse. ### Coppers on the Farm. In South Carolina an enterprising farmer last year, coppers proved a valuable facilitator for the farmer. An increase of 400 pounds in the potato yield of an eighth of an acre was produced by the use of one hundred pounds of coppers. It gave us good results on turnips and cabbages, and the usual sulphate of copper mixed—the yield of a field of hay. Good results were obtained also with cheese, beans and mango wurst.—Arkansas Traveler. --- ## Column 4 # THE BOOM APPROACHETH!!!! It is only a boomlet now, but in consequence thereof now is the time to secure bargains and place yourself in position to take advantage of the incoming tide. North Dakota has passed through what has been known as the "excessive boom" period, and excessive boom prices are only skeletons of the past, and now is the time to purchase property in order to realize the permanent advance of the substantial and solid growth we are beginning to experience. We still have room for bona fide settlers—the strikers and the struck—and Stutsman county can offer inducements to them equalled by no other county in the world—a most productive soil, a most healthful climate and superior social advantages in the shape of flourishing Churches and Educational Institutions. By inspection of the real estate records, it will be found that a few changes have been quietly taking place, and by general inquiry it will be found that others are on the way. Keep an eye out, and should you want a bargain the same can always be found with the undersigned. Look over the following half dozen samples and satisfy yourselves that not only has spring-time arrived but also the proper time for investment. **No. 1.** A 100-acre farm, all under cultivation. Joins the city limits of Jamestown, and is a very choice piece. Will sell for $2,000. **No. 2.** One hundred and sixty acres without any improvements. Joins the village of Eldridge, on the Northern Pacific railroad, five miles west of Jamestown, and is within ten rods of depot. Will sell for $2,000. **No. 3.** An 80-acre farm, with 50 acres improved—15 acres of meadow; house, stable, granary and well. Lies on a main road, and within 2½ miles of the city limits of Jamestown. Will sell for $1,200. **No. 4.** A 160-acre farm, well under cultivation, with good meadow—ample timber for posts—running water, the water this year supplied by the Jamestown river—good house and stable and abundance of small fruit. This valuable property lies within one mile of a good market and railroad depot. Will sell for $3,000. **No. 5.** A 240-acre improved farm, within one mile of a county seat. Excellent market and railroad facilities, and not over 50 miles from Jamestown. Will sell for $2,500. **No. 6.** A store and $2,000 stock of general merchandise, within 15 miles of Jamestown, on the N. P. R. R. The owner of this property did a business of about $600 in January last. This is an excellent opportunity for some enterprising young man, and Jamestown vacant lots will be taken in part payment. 5,000 acres of good wild lands are ready to be sacrificed at from $3.50 to $10 per acre, second up to location, and on terms to suit purchasers. Also several desirable residence houses and business lots in Jamestown, as well as several houses and lots ready for occupancy by either purchaser or tenant. All sales will be made on very reasonable terms and payments to suit the purchaser. Houses and Farms to rent at all prices and on all kinds of terms. Money loaned at best obtainable rates on real estate security, on time to suit borrower. Final Proofs, Contests and Land Filings promptly and carefully attended to before the U.S. Land Offices. Indemnity furnished against loss and damage to property against Fire, Lightning and Wind Storms. Families protected by Life Insurance Policies. Protect your Crops from Hail with Hail Insurance Policies. Both your Time and Crops made good with Hail Insurance Policies. All accomplished by use of first class and reliable Companies. No manner concerns to take death with chattel mortgage. Foreign Money purchased and Foreign Exchange sold. # A. A. ALLEN, Jamestown, Dakota. --- ## Column 5 ### Pretty Well Done. A friend of mine living in Dreedon a few years ago tells me this anecdote. He is a musical amateur, and one day was gazing at the Sistine Madonna, when two Americans came in. One of them, a tall man, who had never seen the famous painting before, stood a long time before it. "After all I've heard about it, I expected to see something," he said. "I can't see it in that." His friend was cast down for a moment, then he reflected. "But, John, it isn't only a year ago that you didn't know who Raphael was. Is it. Considering how far you've come in twelve months, I think it's pretty well done."—The Critic. ### Slang in the Restaurant. Men who use slang in ordering night food material in some restaurants in Kansas City to some abundance of confusion. For instance, if you are sitting at a side street—can you hear downright slang in order as a chicken omelet, and see no sign of it? If you tell the waiter you want an oyster stew, he writes to the kitchen "smother an oyster." A beefsteak becomes "slaughter meat," black coffee is "draw one in the dark;" poached eggs on toast is "Adam and Eve on a raft;" two eggs fried on one side and turned are spoken of as "a couple of buckwheat cakes are spoken of in gambler style as "a turn up;" fried oysters "size up top," and butter cakes are "stack of whites."—Kansas City Globe Notes. ### A Single Track Railroad. A man with "an idea," who is going up and down among capitalists seeking funds for a permanent session of Newburyport, Mass., proposes to build a road to be driven by an engine built on the principle of a bicycle. He has worked the plans to 15 minute details and claims to be able to cover from Boston to Newburyport to the last degree.—New York Tribune. --- ## Column 5 (continued, right side) **NOTICE OF FINAL PROOF.** Land Office at Fargo, D. T., March 26, 1887. Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before U. S. Commissioner at Jamestown, D. T., on May 13th, 1887, viz: NICHOLAS KURTZ, Fargo, D. T. H. E. No. [illegible] for the [illegible] Section [illegible], Township [illegible], Range [illegible] and names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land: [illegible] Nicholas Kurtz, [illegible], [illegible], [illegible]. MICHAEL P. BATTERLE, Register. **NOTICE—TIMBER CULTURE.** U. S. Land Office, Fargo, Dak., April 9, 1887. Complaint having been entered at this office by Maria Duffy had failed to comply with the requirements of the timber culture law under her timber culture entry No. [illegible] made [illegible], for the [illegible] in Township [illegible] Range [illegible], she has failed to comply thereon, and that she has failed to stop, or that she should show cause before the Register and Receiver of the United States Land Office at Fargo, Dakota, on the 24th day of May, 1887, at 10 o'clock a. m., why said entry should not be cancelled. Contestant's attorney: MICHAEL P. BATTERLE, Register. JNO. S. WARREN, Receiver. [illegible] April 19, 1887. **NOTICE OF FINAL PROOF.** Land Office at Fargo, D. T., April 8, 1887. Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before Geo. H. Walsh, U. S. Commissioner, at Jamestown, Dakota Territory, on May 31st, 1887, viz: AMANDA JOHNSON, [illegible] H. E. No. [illegible] for the [illegible] And names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of, said land, viz: [illegible] MICHAEL P. BATTERLE, Register. [illegible] April 19, 1887. --- **JAMESTOWN Circulating Library** AND **Free Reading Room** Well selected Railroad Superintendent's Headquarters. **SUBSCRIBE FOR THE** **DAILY ALERT** --- ## Peripheral items 1. **"BRIGHAM'S GUIDE"** — Full article about John Y. Nelson guiding Brigham Young across the Rockies (Column 1). 2. **"An Erroneous Assumption"** — Short item about meteor brightness, London Astronomical Society (Column 1). 3. **Governors memorial note** — Short item about Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota governors memorializing Congress on pleuropneumonia (Column 1). 4. **"ENGLISH PENNY-A-LINERS"** — Article on London penny-a-lining journalism (Column 2). 5. **"A Lawyer's Plain Living"** — Article on a judge's temperate health habits (Column 2). 6. **"A New Use for Pilot"** — Short item on a new composition/building material (Column 2). 7. **"Emotion Made to Order"** — Short item on actresses and blushing on stage (Column 2). 8. **"STRIVING"** — Poem, Column 3. 9. **"How He Lost His Value"** — Anecdote about a theatrical tiger performer, Chicago Herald (Column 3). 10. **"What Makes a Cad?"** — Essay/opinion piece, Chicago Journal (Column 3). 11. **"Short Furrows a Waste"** — Agricultural note on plowing efficiency (Column 3). 12. **"A Washington Ambition"** — Short satirical item on Washington correspondents (Column 3). 13. **"In the English Salt District"** — Short news item on land subsidence in England (Column 3). 14. **"Children Out at Night"** — Opinion piece on children roaming streets at night (Column 3). 15. **"Coppers on the Farm"** — Short agricultural item on use of coppers/sulphate as fertilizer (Column 3). 16. **"Pretty Well Done"** — Anecdote about the Sistine Madonna, The Critic (Column 5). 17. **"Slang in the Restaurant"** — Short humour item on restaurant slang, Kansas City Globe Notes (Column 5). 18. **"A Single Track Railroad"** — Short item on a bicycle-engine railroad proposal, New York Tribune (Column 5). 19. **NOTICE OF FINAL PROOF (Nicholas Kurtz)** — Legal notice, U.S. Land Office, Fargo, D.T. (Column 5). 20. **NOTICE—TIMBER CULTURE (Maria Duffy)** — Legal notice of complaint, U.S. Land Office, Fargo, Dak. (Column 5). 21. **NOTICE OF FINAL PROOF (Amanda Johnson)** — Legal notice, U.S. Land Office, Fargo, D.T. (Column 5). 22. **Jamestown Circulating Library and Free Reading Room** — Advertisement/notice (Column 5). 23. **"SUBSCRIBE FOR THE DAILY ALERT"** — Newspaper subscription advertisement (Column 5). 24. **A. A. Allen real estate advertisement** — Large advertisement for Jamestown, Dakota real estate, farms, land, insurance, and foreign exchange (Column 4).