Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, March 3, 1908, Page 1

VOLUME 5. NUMBER 269. BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, TUESDAY Historical Society. : THE BEMIDJI DAILY PIONEEL WAS FIRST WHITE WOMAN TO GO DOWN RED RIVER Mrs. P. L. Knappen of Tenstrike Tells Minneapolis Tribune a Very Interesting Story of Her Early Career in the Red River Valley. [The following article appeared in the Minneapolis Tribune of Feb. 23. As the lady mentioned prominently in the story (Mrs. Knappen) is well known here, the Pioneer reproduces it.] Mrs. P. L. Knappen, of Tenstrike, Minn., enjoys the unique distinction of being the first white woman to journey down the Red River of the North from its source to Winnipeg. In fact, it is doubtful if that feat has ever since been duplicated by any of her sex. While white women a- plenty have canoed, rowed and steam- boated the Red river, the occasion has probably never since existed that induced Mrs. Knappen to under- take the perilous trip. Though that was 37 years ago next May and her girlish features have long since taken on the lines of a matured woman- hood, she still says that the call of the wild is sweetest music to her ears. An incident of the trip which lingers in Mrs. Knappen’s memory today as vivid as when it happened, was her meeting on the deck of the famous old steamer, “The Selkirk,” whose timbers have long since fallen apart, with such distinguished men as Charles A. Dana, the famous editor of the New York Sun; Gov- ernor Bromley, of Connecticut; the gifted Bayard Taylor, Editor Bross,! of Chicago and many other cele- brated men of that day. The greatest editors, whose pens down the Red river from that point is best told in Mrs. Knappen’s own words. “After the Otter Tail bubble had been pricked, we sold our belong- ings and our interest in the town- site, which was precious little. We then decided that the best way to recoup was to raft lumber down the Otter Tail river and thence down the Red to a point where the North- ern Pacific railroad was expected to cross the latter river. Wherever that point might be, somewhere be- tween_Fort Abercrombie on the south of Georgetown, an old Hudson Bay post, to the north, we intended to build a hotel. We expected to ac- complish the journey in ten days. But man simply proposes. It took us three months. “This was the second attempt made to navigate the Otter Tail river which changes it name to Red when it turns toward the north at Wahpe- ton. James J. Hill and Griggs & Co., of St. Paul, took two flat boats over the same route in 1869 and 1870. On these boats they con- veyed lumber which they landed at McCauleyville opposite Fort Aber- crombie and there they built the steamer called “The Selkirk,” which was to be used for freight and pas- ‘were potent weapons in empire build- ing, had journeyed to the far north- west to see for themselves how the country looked to better pass judg- ment on the already famous injunc- sengers bound for what at that time was called Fort Geary. Fort Geary was on the site of the present city of Winnipeg, the post being so christened at the time of .the tion of their contemporary, Horace Greeley, of the Tribune, “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.” Mrs. Knappen was assisted on board the steamer from the lumber raft and shook hands with the eastern moulders of public opinion. She recollects a2 remark made by Governor Bromley, the wit of the party, who opined that if the Red River was ‘‘stretched out straight it would reach from Cape Horn to Lake Winnipeg.” The numerous bends of the Red convinced the governor that he was well within the bounds of truth. *““The cook upon the boat,” said Mrs. Knappen, “had substituted beans for potatoes—the latter vege- .table not then being produced in that part of the country. This led Governor Bromley to remark. ‘Imagine eating beans three times a day from Cape Horn to Lake Winnipeg.’ ““This editorial party, about forty in number, was entertained at Pem- bina by the officers of the fort on their arrival at what was then called Fort Gray, later named Win- nipeg.” Following the then rapidly ad- vancing frontier, Mrs. Knappen and her husband, now dead, found themselves at Otter Tail, Minn., May 13, 1871. Otter Tail had been touted by some pioneer boomers as the site on which the “Lake Superior and Puget Sound townsite company” was going to build the| prize town of the northwest. They reached Otter Tail only to find that there was ‘‘nothing doing” and that they had been duped. How they came to make the trip ‘Confederation of Canada.’ I “The old ‘International’ had been plying these waters for a few years and was formerly a boat on the Missippi. It was owned by J. J. Hill and the late Commodore Kitson. It was divided into sec- tions and was taken up the Minne- Bois De Sioux to the Red river. site of Fergus Falls, then a town of of 30 miles by wagon road, it took us fifteen days to negotiate the distance by water. We were delayed three weeks at that point in taking the rafts over the mill dam, below which the water falls 22 feet in half a mile. “Well, the trip was a perilous one indeed. selected trees to climb while left alone, to protect myself from wild animals which were plentiful in days. Part of our swept loose by the -strong current and was stranded high and dry in mid-stream. and bottle washer ent engaged in cooking a pan of dried apples, of which the raftsmen had partaken lliberally. One of the men afterwards jocularly re- marked that the apples enabled him to reach shore. Having eaten the dried apples, being unable to swim, he felt in no danger of sink- ing. Safeguarded by this internal litesaver he jumped overboard and “they drifted him ashore.” (Continued in Wednesdays Pioneer.) Otto Miller Draws Ninety Days. Cass Lake, March 3.—(Special to Pioneer.)—Otto Miller, who has been employed in the Tedford saloon and cafe for some time past, became entangled in a dispute with the pro- prietor early yesterday morning and succeeded in getting satisfaction by throwing an axe through one of the large plate glass windows. Miller got into an argument with Mr. Dalton, the proprietor, making an onslaught on Dalton. In the As revenge on Dalton Miller grabbed an axe and smashed the large plate glass window valued at $125. He was at once placed under arrest and afterward given a hearing, entering a plea of guilty. He was at once sentenced to a ninety.days’ stay at Walke. K. of P.’s Tonight. The regular meeting of the K. of P’s wlll be held at the Masonic hall this evening. There will be work in the third degree and other sota river by ‘Anse’ Northrup,thence through Big Stone Lake and Lake | Traverse and finally through the |3 “From Otter Tail village to the|§ eight or ten dwellings, a distance More than once I|§ fleet was |4 “I recollect that, as ‘chief cook |8 of the party,’” |§ I was at that psychological mom-|[§ The Neslands -n Court. There is considerable of a up” in the domestic affairs of Sophia Nesland and Fmanuel Nesland, who formerly lived together in mortal bliss, the trouble growing out of a mutual agreement to “disagree,” re- lative to their “family affairs.” It appears that proceedings for divorce have commenced, and pend- ing the outcome of these proceed- ings Sophia Nesland brought a restraining order whereby Mr. Nes- land was forbidden to interfere with the conduct of Mrs. Nesland’s busi- ness, which consisted principally in a refreshment parlor at Kelliher. Last Friday, Mr. Nesland, so it is said, broke into the saloon and pro- ceeded to “rough house” the place, with the result that considerable damage was done. Now, Mrs. Nesland has had an attachment issued against Nesland, charging him with contempt of court, in that he interfered with her business. The case was heard before Judge Spooner yesterday afternoon and the proceedings adjourned until March 12, “ . mix- Dissolution of Partnership. Notice is hereby given that the co-partnership heretofore existing by and between Arthur Hagberg and Charles Knopke, doing business under the firm name and style of Hagberg & Knopke, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. Dated at Bemidji, Minnesota, this 3rd day of March 1908. Arthur Hagberg Charles Knopke' Court at Grand Rapids. Judge Marshall A. Spoouer left last evening for Grand Rapids,where he' will preside at an adjourned term of the general ‘term of the district court for that county. At this term the judge will hear nothing but court cases. He ex- pects to be away the balance of the EVENING, MARCH 8, 1908. FORTY CENTS PER MONTH WIRNESOTA STORICAL SQCIETY, SHOULD ADVERTISE IN DULL BUSINESS PERIODS St. Paul Business Man Gives Whole- some Advice as to Use of ' Printet’s Ink. St. Paul Dispatch: “We con- tinue to do things—ridiculous things —because our fathers did them,” remarked a man today, “and we go on doing them year after year with- out asking ourselves why we do so. A case in point is the matter of ad- vertising, which today is a thing of necessity in the business world. If you will notice it you will find that the average business man in periods of dullness and financial depression begins to retrench In the matter of his expense account by curtailing his advertising. He does it because his father did it and because he argues that he can lop it off and restore it again with less inconveni- ence than he can other expenses. But if he will think for a moment and weigh the matter as a cold business proposition involving dollars and cents he is bound to admit his retrenchment had best begin at another point. *“If advertising is a good business practice at any time surely it is most valuable when the people are buying least, for if its object is to attract the purchaser and get him into the store, naturally there must be greater effort expended in that ‘direction when the public is buying least. No matter how severe per- iods of depression are, and how stringent the money market may be, people will spend what they must, and naturally they are in such times more quickly attracted by the offer- ings of advertisers, as they are eager to have their expenditures bring the best_results. “Itis permissible to liken the public—for we are all included in the designation—in flush times to a week. mix-up Miller was severely beaten, t business. undef these conditions bite at any old bait. but when they begin to be decimated in numbers, rendering the natural and usual food of the lake sufficient for them, they grow wary of unwonted morsels provided by the fishermen and the latter are forced to prepare more select bait and proceed more skillfully in order to coax them to the concealed hook. “In this illustration, of course, I do not mean to convey the idea that tke business man has other than the hook of legitimate profit in his offer- ings, but the illustration is analagous to the situation. In flush times the purchaser is not so discriminative in his expenditures as he is forced to be in periods of depression, and to my view it would be the part of sound sense and good judgment for the business man to increase rather than curtail his advertising when a period of dullness sets in. “It is hard to get away from cus- tom, but sooner or later we find out new things and methods, and when we adopt them and secure good results we look back with wonder at how we held so long to the old with- out ‘thinking out’ the new. It will be so in this matter of advertising in a few vears, and, of course, the first to adopt the scheme will secure the benefits longest.” Partnership Dissolved. In today’s issue we publish notice of the dissolution of the partnership of Hagberg & Knopke, who for some time have conducted the Bemidji Meat Market. The busi- ness will be continued by Mr. Knopke, who is an old resident of the city and well known to our readers. : Mr. Hagberg, who has been an owner of the market for the past two years, is considering a proposi- tion to again go upon the road. We regret to loose Mr. Hagberg as a business man of Bemidji. Mr. Hagberg informs us that he lake crowded with hungry fish. Fish Printing The Pioneer Printery Is Equipped with Modern Machinery, Type Faces, and the Largest Stock of Flat Papers, Ruled Goods and Stationery of All Kinds in Northern Minnesota. We have the highest-salaried Printers in Beltrami county, and we are leaders in Commercial Printing. Try us; we'll Suit you. Pioneer Printery Up-to-date will make this city his home. | bottles overstock.” One of the most interesting sessions of the city council was the first meeting of the new coun- cil, which was held at the council rooms last evening. The first work taken up by that| body was the various appointments. Anton Erickson was elected chair- man pro tem. There were two applications for the position of city attorney; that of J. F. Gibbons and D. H. Fisk. Ballot being taken upon some Mr. Gibbons received five and Mr. Fisk three votes. Dr. F. A. Blakeslee was the unani- mous choice of the council for city health officer. When the appointment of street commissioner was reached there was found to be five applications in the hands of City Clerk Malov. J. R. Miller received 5 votes; J. M. Price, 2 votes: J. Kelleson, 1 vote. George Weetman and William Hilgrove,who were also applicants, received none. Mr. Miller was declared the choice of the council as street commissioner. By vote of the council, Mr. Miller was appointed superintendent of the water works, M. D. Stoner was appointed city engineer and Thomas Maloy clerk of the water board. For scavenger there were three applications, that of N. J. Case, J. F. Hennessey and W. O. Noble. i F. Hennessey, who received seven votes, was declared the choice of the council. For chicf cogili€er: and- Jaultor -av the city hall John McElroy was the only applicant. For assistant janitor W. A. Walker. Upon motion duly made both gentlemen were ap- pointed as per their applications. NEW COUNCIL ORGANIZES AND MAKES APPOINTMENTS Mayor Fogue Makes Number of Suggestions for Betterment of City.---Former Police Force Reappointed by Mayor and Appointments Approved by Council.| During the year 1908 the council meetings will be held every Monday evening at 8 o’clock, the same as in the past. The city treasurer’s bond was fixed in the sum of $20,000 and the coun- cil directed him to place the money of the city in the First National Bank and the Lumbermens National Bank, share and sharc alike as near as possible. The council also passed a resolution requiring each bank to give bonds to the city in the sum of $10,000 each. The matter of appointments for the different committees for city work during the year was taken up and by vote of council Chairman Gould was requested to make such appointments at the next meeting. The city bonds of the ensuing year were fixed as follows: city clerk, $2,500; assessor, $1.000; city en- gineer, $2,000: street commissioner, $500; scavenger, $500. The city clerk and the assessor presented their bonds, and said bonds were ap- proved by the council. The application of Peter Linde- berg to sell introxicating liquors was approved andfhis bonds and sureties thereon were accepted. Mayor Pogue then filed with the council his appointment of the different police officers, reappoint- ing the same force which has been on the past year. The appointments were as follows: Chief of Police, C. L. Knox: cap- tain. J. A. Cline; patrolmen, William Love and John A. Denley. Before adjou;ning the city clerk was instructed to advertise for bids for the city printing, bids to be opened at the next meeting. “Bill” Wilson’s New One. Our friend M. F. Wilson attended divine service in town Sunday and incidentally told the following “new one:” “Knew a druggist in Minneapolis who was the limit. One day the clerk came to this guy, and said: “ ‘What shall I do with this batch of hair tonic? - Everybody brings it back and saysit’s no good.” ‘How’s our line of tooth wash?” asks the druggist. ‘We’ve got about 500 “Then put some burnt sienna in that hair tonic and stick on those new piano polish labels.” Notice. Owing to the dissolution of the firm of Hagberg & Knopke, all parties owing accounts at the Bemidji Meat Market are requested to call at the market and settle same at once. It is necessary that we secure im- mediate settlement of our out-stand- ing accounts in order to adjust our own business matters. Arthur Hagberg, Charles Knopke. The Mohr-McMcMillian Fntertainment. The Mohr McMillian company will give an entertainment at the city hall Friday evening, March 6. The program will consist of music, reading and moving pictures. Every number on the program will be a treat, the company being well organized and popular where- ever they go. Carpet Weaving. I have just received a four-harness carpet loom, the only one in this part of the country. Drop a card in the Bemidji postoffice and I will call and get your material for car- pet. Weave all kinds of rugs and carpe's, up to seven feet wide. We urnish warp. E. M. Britton, Bemidji. Matinee tomorrow afternoon at " Apron and Fancy Work Sale. The Ladies’ Aid of the Methodist church will give an apron and fancy work sale the first week in April. Parties wishing to donate to this may do so by notifying Mrs. Minor, Mrs, Mitchell, Mrs. Larson or Mrs. Butler. Royal Neighbor Dance. The members of the Royal Neigh- bor lodge will give a dance at the 0dd Fellow’s hall Tuesday, March 3rd. Good music will be furnished. A cordial invitation is extended to all. Matinee tomorrow afternoon at three o’clock at the Brinkman Fam- ily Theatre. Liberal Dedication Donations. Through the columns of the Pioneer on behalf of the members of St. Phillips church I wich to thank the following pe .ors fev oo liberal donations @1 (s i1y dedication services.| Those contribu:: amounts are as follc P. J. Russell J. A. Ludington i Dr. Gilmore 3 J. O. Harris C. Nangle i L. F. Johnson Peter Larkin’ Mrs. D. Schrifz T. Beaudette J. H. Dea ! Jerry McCar 2 Mrs. A. W. } W. Helin 4 J. F. Gibbons | Mrs. J. Parker | P. M. Dicaire | M. Thome J. Bisiar Dr. Morrison Frank Higbee J. F. Boss L2 H. Doyle N E. H. Bowers h Mrs. J. Fullerton three o’clock at the Brinkman Fam- ily Theatre. A Continued on Last Plg‘e\\ John McDougal