Full text of "History of Minnehaha Co." Chapter 15

	This file contains the full text of Bailey's History (1899),
	Chapter 15, pages 248 to 257.

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CHAPTER XV.

CEPHAS TALCOTT ANECDOTES - RAISING A CHURCH DEBT-CHARLES L. NORTON'S BIRD DOGS-
AN INCIDENT AT LONE ROCK- THEY SAW THE GOAT-CHARLES BARRETT'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM 
BEING BURIED ALIVE- BUCHANAN BROTHERS GREAT SHOW RAINMAKING.

CEPHAS TALCOTT ANECDOTES.

	Among the early arrivals in Sioux Falls was one Cephas Talcott. If he was 
not an original character he was at least a little peculiar. While looking for 
land one day, he was returning to Sioux Falls and came by the burial place of 
Governor Masters, the Amidons and those of the soldiers who had died during the 
time Sioux Falls was a military post. The burial place was located on the 
resident lots of the late Justin A. Pettigrew, and the officers in charge of the 
military post had enclosed the grounds and put up the following notice: "Anybody 
interfering with the government burial ground will be guilty of and punished for 
a misdemeanor." Talcott came into the village wild with delight. He had made a 
discovery. He had found a claim unoccupied almost in the heart of the village. 
He finally said: "I will have it understood that no gosh darn Miss D. Meaner can 
hold down a claim and live in another place." On one occasion when out on the 
prairie looking for land, he found a government stake, and being unable to 
decipher it, pulled it up and brought it to town. He was informed it was a 
serious offense, and went back to replace it, but could not find the place from 
whence he had taken it. He finally took up some land west of the river, and 
getting a little broken and fitted for a crop, came to town to advise what crop 
to raise. He fell in with one Robinson, who told him the best paying crop he 
could raise was nutmegs - that their cultivation was easy- that they grew 
rapidly and would mature in a short season - that they were easily gathered, 
growing on low bushes, and brought a good price. Talcott bought all the nutmegs 
he could get in town, Robinson instructing him to plant them shallow and to put 
a little stick by every nutmeg planted, and Cephas followed instructions, and 
Robinson followed him, and stole all the nutmegs. Talcott was too good for this 
country, and Robinson went farther west.

RAISING A CHURCH DEBT.

	E. W. Caldwell is well known as a good story-teller, and it is also well 
known that he considers it a grave offense to allow the color of a good story to 
fade out while being told to his hearers. The writer heard him on several 
occasions repeat an appeal made by a professional church-debt-lifter at an early 
day in one of the churches in Sioux Falls to liquidate the debt on the church in 
which he was speaking. On one occasion the writer had a stenographer take down 
the language as it fell from Cal's lips, which was as follows:

	"My dear Brethren! I want to impress upon you the great fact that for 
every dollar you give in this cause or any other cause in which the good Lord is 
interested, He will pay it back to you many fold. You may rely upon this as a 
principle to which in all church history there is not a single exception. As an 
illustration of it I will tell you of an incident which came under my own 
observation. We were undertaking to raise the debt which laid as an incubus upon 
the church at Fort Dodge, and I was undertaking to raise a subscription from the 
brethren. There was one member of the church, who was engaged in the grain 
business, that is, not exactly as you might say, in the business of buying the 
real grain, but something that I believe they call options, and he had a great 
deal of money invested in these options; and I went to him and asked him to 
contribute $1,500 towards raising this debt. He protested, that his funds were 
so closely tied up that he did not feel justified in using any of his money 
outside of his business. I impressed upon him, as I desire to impress upon you, 
that the money that he might contribute towards paving this obligation, would 
result in the Lord's repaying him.

	Finally he was induced to contribute the amount that I requested; and 
brethren, I want to say to you, that sooner even than I expected, the amount was 
paid to him again. As I was saying, he was engaged in the grain business, and 
had bought a great deal at a price, which, had there been a tremendous crop, 
would have occasioned him considerable loss; but very shortly after he made this 
contribution, there came sweeping down over this country tremendous hordes of 
those pestilential insects that destroyed the crops and left the harvest fields 
a bare ruin. The result was that directly the price of grain went up so 
enormously that this dear brother who had contributed so largely towards the 
Lord's service, was rapaid more than a hundredfold. And so it is my brethren, 
that the Almighty pays particular attention to promoting the interests of those 
who have maintained His interests."

CHARLES NORTON'S BIRD DOGS.

	Sioux Falls, like all new towns, had its full quota of practical jokers. 
It is necessary for all communities to have a certain amount of amusement, and 
if it does not come to them through the ordinary channels, it is supplied in 
some other way. Theatrical troupes did not visit Sioux Falls during the first 
few years of its existence, and trained bears and hand organs were rarely seen 
upon its streets. To make up for the deficiency in the line of amusements, 
practical joking was resorted to, and occasionally resulted in considerable 
merriment, especially to those who were closely allied to the principals.

	Strange as it may seem to those who have become acquainted with Charles L. 
Norton during the last few years, yet, it is a fact that during his early 
residence in Sioux Falls he was a person who would "bear watching." He seemed to 
enjoy the discomfiture of those upon whom he could play a practical joke, and he 
was always sure to have a circle of confederates to help him enjoy the fun. To 
such an extent had he added to his list of victims that the whole field was 
pitted against him, and here is one of the good things that was successfully 
worked upon him.

	One day while engaged in work at the station he received a telegram from 
Conductor Parker, who was coming in charge of a train from St. Paul, which read 
as follows: "Two tramps aboard have got a fine bird dog, will sell for ten 
dollars. Do you want it?" The chicken season was just dawning, and Charlie 
didn't know for certain the tramps had stolen the dog - the dog was cheap - he 
wanted a dog, and this appeared to be the dog he was looking for, and so he 
telegraphed back: "Buy him." The train came and the dog was delivered and the 
money paid to Parker. Charlie noticed that Captain Bourne-a lumber dealer in 
Sioux Falls-got off from the train, accompanied by a good looking stranger, who 
afterwards proved to be a man by the name of Foster on a chicken excursion - but 
no tramp. Charlie tied the dog in the freight room, but about an hour after, 
upon going to see him, found he was gone - rope and all. He went after that dog, 
and he found him over town in company with Parker, Foster, Captain Bourne and 
several other congenial, convivial spirits, and they all seemed as happy as 
though they were spending some one's money instead of their own. He soon learned 
that Foster had, what is called, a superior title to that dog, and that Captain 
Bourne got Parker to telegraph Norton for authority to purchase the dog for him.

	He took the matter philosophically, didn't complain and did not try to get 
his money back - in fact, that had been spend before he found out all the facts. 
But he did sit down and give away to resentful feelings, and plan for revenge. 
The mere sight of a bird dog made him wild. All through that fall and winter he 
seemed absent minded - in a sort of deep study - but when spring came, and the 
chickens began to hatch, his accustomed cheerfulness returned, although his 
friends noticed that there was a "way off look" in his left eye when he met 
Captain Bourne.

	He discussed all summer with Captain Bourne the pleasure of chicken 
hunting, until that gentleman was enthused with the idea that there was nothing 
like it. During all this time Charlie was making friends with an old dog 
belonging to one of his neighbors. He petted and fed him, and taught him to 
follow him.

	This dog had one thing in common with a bird dog, and only one, and that 
was - he was a dog. His neck and tail were about the same in circumference, but 
his size and color were about right. He took this dog down to the Milwaukee 
depot, and by some hypnotic influence induced the agent to join in his wicked 
scheme for revenge.

	The dog was tied up at the depot, and Charlie went to Captain Bourne's 
office and told him the Milwaukee agent had a fine dog left with him which he 
proposed to sell at auction. Bourne wanted the dog, and he and Charlie went down 
and looked him over, and by the use of extravagant praise of the dog's good 
points Bourne paid the Milwaukee agent fifteen dollars, and took the dog up to 
his office. As soon as Bourne was gone, Norton got the fifteen dollars and went 
up town to see his friends, and sent the owner of the dog after him. Captain 
Bourne, although of a sweet mild disposition (so the old settlers say) got 
angry, and waged active war upon the owner of the dog. But the captain had to 
yield to what is called "the force of circumstances" and the dog went with the 
man who had the superior title.

AN INCIDENT AT LONE ROCK.

	Lone Rock was frequently visited by the residents of Sioux Falls, and it 
was a favorite spot for fishermen to while away a few hours catching pickerel. 
At an early day a man by the name of Dan Harnet resided in Sioux Falls. He was 
an excentric character and afforded the people a great amount of amusement. As a 
practical joker his name was first on the list.  Another resident at the same 
time, was one Honey-Lake Smith. He came from California, and had there been 
proprietor of a ranch called Honey-Lake, hence he was known here in Sioux Falls 
as Honey-Lake-Smith. He claimed to be a prize fisherman in California, and his 
fishing exploits, as told by himself, would not suffer by comparison with the 
tales of Munchausen. Dan Harnet was a betting man. He was ready at all times and 
under all circumstances to wager any and everything in his possession, and all 
the property of his friends and relatives besides, upon any debatable question 
that might arise.

	He was tired of Honey-Lake's fishing stories, and offered to bet him $20 
that he could catch more pickerel with hook and line out of the Sioux river in 
two hours than Honey-Lake could.

	The bet was promptly taken, and Harry Corson chosen as referee, and Dan 
Harnet selected Lone Rock as his position to fish. Honey-Lake selected a 
position a little below, where he could see the top of Lone Rock, and Corson 
took a position on shore near a small pool of water, but where Honey-Lake could 
not see him. Time was called, and Harnet soon caught a pickerel which was thrown 
over to Corson, who announced that he would put the pickerel in the pool. Harnet 
threw out his line, and Corson fastened the pickerel already caught to Harnet's 
hook, after which Harnet passed the fish over to Corson again, in fact, this was 
repeated as often as these heathen Chinese dared to do it. The same operation 
was gone through with in all about fifteen times, and each time the pickerel was 
given an airing, Dan shouted, and Honey-Lake could see the pickerel on its 
journey from Lone Rock. The California adjectives indulged in by Honey-Lake were 
numerous and emphatic.

	When the time was up, Harnet had only two fishes and Honey-Lake the same 
number. Corson and Harnet started home, telling Honey-Lake the fish were safe in 
the pool, but there were so many that they would send some one for them. They 
succeeded in getting Honey-Lake up town without his looking in the pool, and the 
money was paid over to Harnet. It was not long, however, before Honey-Lake 
learned the real facts in the case but as he was invited to the entertainment 
given by Harnet in celebrating his victory, he resigned himself pleasantly to 
his fate.

THEY SAW THE GOAT.

DAKOTA LADIES GET A GLIMPSE OF HIS MASONIC MAJESTY. 
From St. Albans, Vt., Weekly Messenger.

	The "goat" which is supposed to do active service at all regular and 
special communications or assemblies of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and other 
fraternities has for ages past piqued the curiosity of many "outsiders" -and 
especially has the existence of that mysterious animal been a source of anxiety 
to the portion of the fair sex whose husbands are on familiar and friendly terms 
with the aforesaid "butter." A private letter from South Dakota to a St. Albans 
gentleman relates an instance in which this never-dying" curiosity was at least 
temporarily satisfied; and as it is too good to keep we give it away-
confidentially of course.

	The Grand Army of the state mentioned were holding an annual meeting in a 
certain busy town, and, as a proper accompaniment, came also a gathering of the 
Woman's Relief Corps. It so happened that the latter held their meeting in the 
Masonic hall, and some wicked wag decided that he would introduce the 
"traditional goat" to the ladies by way of convincing them that the animal was a 
"stern reality." The billy-goat was procured, and during an intermission he was 
shut up in a side room, with a label "Private" on the door. The scheme worked 
well. A damsel of inquiring turn of mind tried the door. So did the billy-goat. 
He made a bold rush, pushed through the opening, and with a bleat bounded into 
the midst of the women in the ante-room, very much to their amazement. Then 
consternation set in as the terrible stories of the devastation wrought by the 
masonic goat were recollected by these defenseless females. Taking refuge in 
chairs and on tables was of no avail, for "Billy" was agile; and the janitor 
(Frank Kunerth) had to be called in to take hold of both horns of this dilemma 
and lead him away. It was a case where the Relief Corps needed relief; and some 
of those women are now ready to believe that "the goat" is no myth, but instead 
an inconvenient combination of horns, hoofs and "trying" disposition.

CHARLES BARRETT'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEIN(. BURIED ALIVE.

	The election of Harrison for President in 1888, was celebrated in Sioux 
Falls with a good deal of enthusiasm, both natural and inspired, and it is owing 
to this fact, that in gathering up the fragments, that as little as possible may 
be lost, we chronicle the following episode.

	Every one knows Charles Barrett, and favorably too, for he is a good 
fellow, and is entirely satisfied with a residence in this world of cloud and 
sunshine, and would not exchange it for any place he can possibly hope for in 
the future.

	He had been tempted by some of the "unterrified" to make sundry little 
bets, that Harrison would be elected, and in fact had yielded to the temptation 
(with great reluctance, of course, believing it was morally wrong to bet upon 
any event).

	Cigars, a little money here and there, parcels of clothing, and also a 
very fine silk hat had been won by Mr. Barrett. He was feeling happy-the country 
was safe-the little tokens of his good judgment were in his possession, in fact, 
he felt generous to a fault. The boys had decorated his new silk hat with 
mottoes, and in doing so, had made it a very tall hat, and in fastening the 
decorations had punctured it full of holes, and all this without any protest 
being made. He took his friends, or his friends took him down to the "Mint" and 
what happened is best told in his own language:

	"I drink beer occasionally, but seldom anything stronger, but the boys 
wouldn't take anything but "red bug juice," and of course, I had to take it with 
them. We drank several times, and I found I was dizzy and light-headed, but the 
other fellows seemed to be all right, and it made me a little mad. I thought 
they were trying to get me drunk. It occurred to me that my stomach was empty, 
and if I could only get a good lunch, I could go back and do them up. So I 
slipped out, intending to go across the street to a restaurant and fill up. As 
it happened Booth's undertaking establishment was next door to the restaurant, 
and I got in there by mistake. Booth was in, and seeing my condition said to me: 
"Charlie, come into the back room and lie down awhile, it will do you good." I 
thought so too, and went into his back room and lay down on a lounge, and was 
asleep in no time. I don't know how long I slept, but after awhile I woke up, 
and looking around found I was in a room with a lot of coffins. I thought I was 
laid out. I couldn't remember of being sick or hurt. I saw that silk hat, and 
then I thought I had been run over, taken up for dead, and delivered over to an 
undertaker. I felt of my head, arms and legs and body, to see if I had been 
smashed, but I could not find any trouble. I made a little stir, and was trying 
to get up, when Booth came in, put his hand on my shoulder, and said: "Charlie 
lie down." I thought he was a going to put me in a coffin, and I had got to act 
at once to keep from being buried. I commenced on Booth, and he shed his clothes 
in no time, and I can see him now crawling on his hands and knees to get away 
from me. When I had got rid of him, I made for the back door, went over a three 
foot railing to the ground eight feet below. I landed all right and ran for 
assistance, and coming into a small company of men, told them Booth was trying 
to bury me alive. Of course, I was very soon on my way home in a hack. I paid 
Booth $35.00 damages when I got down town, and made up my mind that "bug juice 
didn't agree with me."

	A little incident connected with this affair occurred about the time 
Barrett was flying up the back alley. Booth pulled his clothes together, went to 
the front door, and seeing Captain Parliman, said: "Cap, Charlie Barrett is in 
here crazy, come in and quiet him down!" Capt. Parliman looked at Booth and 
replied: "I don't want any of it in mine, I am not going in there," and looking 
Booth over again he added: "and I don't think you had better go in yourself."

BUCHANAN BROTHERS' GREAT SHOW.

	Sometime in the future it is possible that some enterprising citizens of 
this county may organize a show and go on the road with an ambition to rival the 
show fame of P. T. Barnum. In order that they and their friends may not claim it 
to be the first enterprise of the kind originated in this county, we propose to 
put on record, so far as it can be done in a work of this kind, the fact that on 
Thursday, May 12, 1898, "Buchanan Brothers' Great Show"-"Two shows combined in 
one" exhibited in the city of Sioux Falls. It was a pure and simple Minnehaha 
county product, and this was the first time this great aggregation of 
Aerialists, Gymnasts, Acrobats, Riders, and Arenic Specialists exhibited under 
canvas. The Buchanan Brothers were citizens of Sioux Falls, and the enterprise 
and energy displayed in getting together this combined circus, menagerie and 
museum, struck the ordinary citizen as being a prima facia omen of success. But 
it was a wet season, and when they left Sioux Falls and went on the road they 
had a dampness to encounter, which overpowered their well laid plans to amass a 
fortune in the show business. After about thirty days the aggregation ceased to 
aggregate, and finally stranded at Pipestone, Minnesota. Everyone in Sioux 
Falls, where the Buchanan boys are well known, regretted the misfortune that 
overtook them; but, nevertheless Minnehaha county can still point to her Queen 
Bee mill, and several other monuments of her enterprise.

RAINMAKING.

	During the month of May, 1894, there were frequent newspaper notices of 
persons' traveling about producing rain to order in such quantities as people 
wanted. From these articles it appeared that these rain magicians would go to a 
drouth stricken country and contract with the muncipal authorities or other 
equally intelligent people to produce a certain rainfall, within a certain 
period, for a certain consideration. Upon scanning the articles carefully it 
appeared that the consideration paid was the most certain, the period the next, 
and the rainfall the least certain event to happen. In some cases rain fell 
within the period named, but it was usually where the people could have 
consistently claimed that the Great Ruler had forgotten his children if rain had 
not fallen within the time fixed. Of course, every community has a certain 
percentage of people who are ready to believe in any claim put forth which they 
cannot understand, and especially if it is opposed to all natural laws, sense 
and reason. Minnehaha county had people of this sort, and they came to the 
conclusion after waiting a long time for much needed rain, that the relations 
were somewhat strained between the Great Arbiter of earthly events and the 
inhabitants of the Sioux Valley, and that something must be done at once to get 
the much needed moisture. A few of the citizens of Minnehaha county came before 
the board of county commissioners on the 7th day of June, and among them our 
esteemed friend Estabrook, who was supported by a petition with forty 
signatures, and asked the board to appropriate not to exceed $800 for the 
purpose of procuring a certain rain maker by the name of Jewell with his gas 
tube and box trap to come to Sioux Falls, mix up his chemicals and wet down 
Minnehaha county as it should be. He said "it is no praying scheme-that's 
failed, but this man is a real rain producer, and rain seems to follow him, and 
he seldom can get in out of the wet, and that the people of Minnehaha county who 
had crops which were suffering for water would never be satisfied if this man 
and his moisture extractor were not brought to Minnehaha county and set at 
work." It was suggested that there were not more than four or five gallons of 
moisture in the atmosphere within fifty miles of Sioux Falls, but this didn't 
phase him, for he replied "more or less, we want what there is and the people 
are entitled to it." A resolution was introduced in accordance with the prayer 
of the petitioners, but it was lost. It did not, however end the matter. The 
drouth became more pronounced, and the demand for the rain-maker Mr. Jewell 
became more clamorous, and in some way he was induced to come to Sioux Falls 
about the 18th day of June. On the 19th day of June there was an informal 
meeting of the county commissioners, or some of them at least, and negotiations 
were entered into between the board and Jewell for producing a rainfall in the 
County of Minnehaha. There is no record of the proceedings, and the writer is 
compelled to rely upon his memory for what follows. Jewell knew what he was 
talking about, and assured the commissioners that he had conducted fifty-one 
experiments, and had been successful fifty-one times. He said, among other 
things, that he could produce rain under any circumstances, although it would 
not be so copious if high winds prevailed and the temperature was below fifty 
degrees, but with both of these obstacles in his way he could still milk the 
atmosphere. At Des Moines after the weather bureau had announced there were no 
prospects of rain and there was no moisture in the atmosphere within a circle of 
100 miles of the city, he liberated the gas in the box car he was traveling 
about in, and it shot up into the ethereal canopy through his three little tin 
tubes - and the parched earth was drenched with water. He assured the 
commissioners he had no trouble in making contracts for producing rain, and that 
his success had been so uniform and remarkable that only very religious people 
objected to rain contracts, and they solely upon the ground that it was an 
insult to Providence, who knew best when to send rain. This seemed to remove the 
last obstacle in Commissioner Schaetzel's mind, and they all commenced to talk 
business. Commissioner Lee wanted the gas to enter the atmosphere at the 
geographical center of the county, and said he should insist upon it, so that in 
case the rainfall should not be uniform in quantity throughout the county the 
taxpayers couldn't blame the commissioners. Emerson said he wanted each 
commissioner district to get the same quantity of water per acre, and he had 
taken the liberty to ask Mr. Jewell when he first met him whether this could be 
done, and if he would do it if a contract was made, and Mr. Jewell replied, that 
all he wanted was the loan of a county map while he remained in Sioux Falls, and 
he would see to it that the rainfall was uniform throughout the county. 
Commissioner Colton said: "The northwestern part of the county won't kick if 
they don't get quite so much rain as they do down nearer the machine - we had 
quite a shower up there a few days ago, and the crops are not suffering so much 
as they are a little further south. I am for letting Mr. Jewell do his work 
where he thinks he can do it to the best advantage." Before the contract was 
drawn the commissioners tried to induce Mr. Jewell to make the payment 
contingent upon his producing a certain amount of rainfall within a given time, 
but they found that the gentleman who was endeavoring to make his fifty-second 
contract a very prudent man and fully alive to the possible result of such a 
provision in the contract. But all the details were arranged, and the writer 
drew the contract. It was a compromise affair. A certain amount was to be paid 
in advance ($200) so Mr. Jewell could get his chemicals, and $400 more to be 
paid if a rainfall of one half inch should be produced within a given time, with 
a provision that, in case at the expiration of the time one half inch had not 
been produced and it was raining, Mr. Jewell should be permitted to finish his 
shower and get his money. After the contract was made Mr. Jewell went to Stite's 
drug store and bought about one dollar and fifty cents worth of chemicals and 
went to his box car and, to be exact, at 3:30 p. M., on the 19th day of June in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety four, he let loose to 
an unsuspecting, unprepared firmament all the gas he could produce from the 
materials he purchased of Stites. The next day (Wednesday the 20th) he announced 
to the people through the newspapers that there would be a great downpour of 
rain before 6 P. M., on the following Thursday, and requested the daily papers 
to advise their readers to be prepared for a deluge of rain. The weather bureau 
got hold of Jewell's prognostications and on Wednesday it predicted rain for 
Thursday in the locality of Sioux Falls. Hicks, Coats and Thomas J. Mills all 
climbed onto Jewell's band wagon, and it did seem as though the mighty elements 
of nature had been corraled at last, and would soon perform their functions, 
refreshing the thirsty soil in Minnehaha county. But the elements were 
intractable and refused to be milked by Jewell, and Thursday passed into history 
in Sioux Falls as one of the most defiant dry days of the season. Friday 
explanations were in order, and Jewell affirmed that the great altitude of Sioux 
Falls made it difficult for him to inject his gas into the atmosphere and bring 
it down to the dew-point. It should be mentioned that during the week he was in 
Sioux Falls there were frequent showers all about Minnehaha county, but none 
within its limits until Saturday when there was a moderate shower in the 
northern portion, and Saturday evening there was a gentle rain in the city of 
Sioux Falls and vicinity. While here, although not successful in producing rain, 
he sold to Hanson and McCook counties the right to use his invention in 
producing rain in those counties for the sum of $700 for each county. They had 
to contract, however, to keep their showers in hand and not work on such an 
extensive scale as to water the adjoining counties. In the Sioux Falls Press of 
Saturday morning June 23, an article appeared, written by Harley Pettigrew, 
which completely punctured the whole scheme and made it too ridiculous for its 
most sanguine supporters to ever mention it again. He went at the problem from a 
scientific standpoint and demonstrated how impossible it would be, even by the 
use of train loads of chemicals to condense the moisture in a single cubic mile 
of the atmosphere, to say nothing about causing a rainfall over an area of 816 
square miles of territory. Mr. Jewell left Sioux Falls on Saturday afternoon 
following his failure, and since then rainmakers are not on the schedule of 
quotations.

[photo - CASCADES AT SIOUX FALLS.]