The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, July 22, 1920, Page 3

v ye . only I/worked for’ Mr. Vetter twenty- BISMARCK DAILY TRIBUNE Once Thriving and Important. tn- _ dustry Is Ended. BE 10 CHANGING FASHIONS Gstiae Mesemann Worked at One Ta | ble In Mew York for 56 Years—He Waa the ‘Third Owner. of the Busi ness—Product No Longer Used for Many Purpgses for Which It Was Qncq Popular. coed With the retirement from business recently of George Messmann of New York, the business of whalebone cut- ting in this. country. terminated. 7 At one time, this was;a thriving and im- Dortant, industry,. but .of late -years, what ,with changing .fashions the In- troduction . of sybstitutes for “bone” and the frank use: of metal in. its Place as distinguished, from, the sub- stitution of, some..similar appearing | substance, the. whalebone. trade ‘has fallen.upon evil times; Also the catch has grown constantly ,smaller and smaller. According -to. Mr... Messmann; there Is no. whalebone- now: in, the market, although there is. some, slight: expecta- tion ofa, little: coming,in im-the fall. “What right whale fishing hasbeen done lately. has been from the West Coast, Frisco, Seattfe ahd,altogether in Pacific, waters..an@,.toward. the,Jap- anese coast,” said Mr. Messmann, “The long famous New Bedford, Nantucket €0OX GETS RECEPTION IN WASHINGTON : ne ieee ~Governor AEOVE Cox holding lit tla Fredenia, Barton, who gave him he welcome ‘bouquet, and Franklin . Roosevelt at the Washington, !. C. depot. BELOW+the crowd watt- ing outside une depot to cheer Cox. Washington.—With cries of “Hello, Mister President!” Washington gave its greeting to Dem- and Vineyard whale .fishing jas-been | ocratic Nominee James W. Cox, governor of Ohio, when he arrived here to consult with President out. of. existence-fon: some time.” Mr. Messmann, interrupted: in. the winding up of.his business affairs, ad- mitted: that he was chiefly preoccupied at. the moment. with. deciding what souvenirs, to, retain: or send to those | what you call the good-will—of for interested in the.business before his | any of the equipment. All I paid him time. .Mr..Messmann pleads guilty to | for was the actual. stock of raw whale~ seventy-one, years, although he looks | bone in the house. ‘The tools, the safe, as hale.,;and= héarty as any man..of | the machinery, the furniture, the good- fifty could wish, and, looking, baek, to } will—everything—he gave me.” his predecessor, and his predecessor's | When asked what would become of predecessor, who ran the same busi- | the business, Mr. Mesmann indicated negs inthe. same spot,: he, explained | that “his. foreman, .John Martel, had why he. felt-that he. was the young- | been with the concern since 1871, and est, as well. as the oldest, eutter-up of j the inference was that, history might whalebone ..left in the,,United States. | repeat itself in a~limited way. “I was born in 1849,, although. ev- Sixty Years in One Building. erybody: says Idon't look it,” said he | .In speaking of the interesting and with a hearty laugh, “in, New York } now vanishing business of whalebone City, and. since 1864 I have been work- f cutting. and, dressing, Mr. Messmann ing, right, here in this. Shop. That is | said: fifty-six ‘years, “Since 1860 this whalebone business ,At,One Table Fifty. Six Years, fas been. continuously in this building. “In' 1890 ‘took over the business | When we—I mean. the business—first from A,.J. Vetter, who retired, just |came here we sold a -great deal of* as In 1866 ‘Mr. Vetter took it over from} bone for hoop skirts. We sold it for William: Forster, the owner at that | umbrella ribs, too. That was before time.. Mr, Vetter worked for Mr. {the time of the metal umbrella rib.” Forster, as I worked for Mr. Vetter, ] Diving it into, a drawer, Mr. Mess- mann fished gut a very old rib, a strip of whale bone, with square-fin- ished. sides; about one-eighth of an inch thick, terminating in a well- shaped tip, the prototype of the mod- ern, umbrella’s bone or horn tipped metal rib. “We sold the ribs squared off, the umbrella makers tapering the ends. It, was ’66. before they used steel ribs in umbrellas. “Automobiles shave caused a large decrease in -whalebone sales. You don’t need a whip for an auto. For- merly carriages and turnouts were numerous and whips were needed. We sold a great deal of whalebone for whips.” Sixty years ago, when closely set whalebones stiffened. ladies’ basques Wilson and party leaders. to retire, aiid Tie gave me Everything. I did not pay him .for the business— four yéars—a long time, eh? I) Work- ed two years for, Mr. Forster before that. I came here as a boy of fifteen years. For almost fifty-six years I have worked, cutting~bone, at that table,” continued Mr. Messmann, : in- dicating a heavy, rough cutting table. Those were the: good old days, ac- cording to the veteran whalebone cut ter, when Saturdays meant 5 o'clock, just like am other day, and there were no vacations. “I worked for-A. J. Vetter twenty- four years with never a day’s vaca- tion,” he said. “It was all-day on Saturdays, and I never missed 2 day. In those days we worked for our money.” The quaint brick ‘building: aty 161 Duane street, which has housed the whalebone-cutting business with never a break since the year 1860, was orig- {nally -built asa private house.: Then it was used as -a schoolhouse, and later descended to a trade level, be- ing used for a coffee mill. ~ 4 “There is an extension out at the back which you can see, where they used to roast the coffee,’ said, Mr. Messmann. 4 In 1860 the building; was.taken over for the then flourishing -whalehone business, which, with successive years, has been. pushed up,. until -recently it has oecupied only the two upper stories, reached by. almost, perpendic- ular .old stairs. Over the street en- trance ‘to the »building hangs a plain sign with the word ‘“Whalebone’! in large..wpite letters ona black ground. This sign. is:old, but new. in compar- ison with. the one that is. nailed up over it, which displayed: the name of, A, J: Vetter until, time: obliterated it and the sold» rough board above’ that which at one time told the world that William Forster was in.the whalebone business, Reminders of (Old . Days. “I am going-to*send this.” indicat- ing an old ‘mahogany desk, “to Mr. Carl Vetter in North Andover, Mass. He is the son of. AJ. Vetter. He will tke to have the old desk at which his, father, sat, and the ofd clock. too,” he added, nodding, to an oldfashlonsd wall clock. " “That, clock {s (still going just the same as every, and I personslly< can vouch for the, fact that ff “has: had only, two. aprings since ‘the year-1864. Once, in a..while lately. ‘It stops, and I Just take it and put it in the steam bos, let it. get .warmed-yp a‘little, and were formidable affairs, the whalebone as stays, close-set with bor! business flourished. Sales have been getting searcer ‘lately. More recently whalebone has been sold‘ to felt’ hat manufacturers, who place a thin, slen- der strip inside the sweatband to keep the hat in shape. The whalebone comes in what are teehnically, known as. “slabs"”—thick, flexible strips, running to about ten feet in length, broad at the base and tapering to a blunt point, These big slabs .of whalebone are sometimes variegated, ‘so-called: “white” bone be- ing found here and there in streaks. “When we encounter a light streak we cut that out and lay it aside,” said Mr. Messman. “In this way we as- semble a quantity of whalebone of a light tone. It- runs about the-shade of manila paper.” , Mr. Mesmann showed a box of this bone, such as he had sold to dry goods stores and dressmakers’ supply houses. The bone, cnt in lengths of thirty-six inches, very flexible and almost as thin as heavy note, paper, was part of a lot which he used to sell to a de- partment store, where it was used in ball dresses, according to jMr. Mess- mann. Whatebone Bullet Probes. During the war whalebone probes were used to search for bullets, the strip of whalebone about 14 inches long being rounded like a child's old. fashioned slate pencil and then cut away to an exceedingly fine and flex; ible thinness, terminating in a slightly rounded, end. .The whalebone is all cut by hand, with kniv and later shaped and smoothed by machinery. 1 *Whalebone ts obtained from the it goes right.on..- You can’t beat that.” right whale or cachelot, the bow! head Mr. Mesmann . admitted that hel} and. the humpbacked whale: These would feel lost without the business. }.must not be confused with the sperm The old office safe is dated 1852 and whale,-from which sperm oil is taken. has been’ used contingously in. this] The, whalebone of the humpbacked one business. It is provided with “a | whale is not considered desirable. The wonderful lock,” ‘said Mr: Messmann, | whalebone or baleen, as it Is called, “no combination.”: jis so placed within ‘the jaws of the In this day of ‘strictly. monetary | whale that he uses it for straining the transactions, the thanher’! fi Which this small living organisms on which he feeds. mpniatnne business seas handed dove Mr. Messmann treasuref a slab, found -tossed in with: a large lot of by the. veteran, whalebone cutter, might s member’ of a he. considered startling... bone, :on which some membe lently put in “J hal pothing. when. T4008 over aoe ame Graven ot Is plishe this business,” said M Messmann, “or, < surface is a panorama, ‘showing heav- almost nothing. _Mr.-Velter asisned’| 8 Ingcbillows, a full-igged ship, whales and bodices, and corsets, then known | and more whales,: some pf “sounding,” with just their ta, ing up; one with his bulky head fut- ; ting up like a cliff, with a wh, sboat neatly bittem-in two by his gigantic jaws. The decorations include -a shore, with lighthouse, cottage and trees, and dec ive emblens—engles, and patriot scriptions such | “KE Pluribus Unung,” “Liberty” and | | them tiRk- as “Columbia. The last whale, known to have been caught off New York, according to | Mr. Messmanm, was taken by Captain j Joshua Edwards, off Amagansett, L. L, fifteen years ago. “I got there as fast.as I could, but another man beat me to it,” said Mr. Messmann. “Sorry, said Captain Edwards, ‘but I have sold it to a man from the Museum of Natural History. He paid | 10 per cent more than your, price. How inuch is it worth? '“In other words, I had to set the price for them. But I had no chance, as, no matter what I offered, they would go 10 pér cent higher. Captain Edwards said the next one I should have, nO matter what happened; but they never got another one.” King’s Valet Wealthiest Man Servant An inheritance of $50,000 from.a rel- ative, a fish merchant In New Zealand, makes James. Dickson, first valet to j King George of England the wealthiest man servant in the world, LEAGUE OUSTED FROM CONTROL IN COMMITTEES i - (Continued from Page One)’ jsom county, the fourteenth districte ay W. Craig, state manager for i league, was elected committeeman, jand = moved ~ adoption of resolution commending Frazier | administration. The Democrats named W.-F. Grange, committeeman. He is. an Independent. | “Independents in Traill The Independents won in Traill county, the eighth district electing E. :Q. Nelson, committeentan. The Inde- | pendents won out on every question; brought before the convention, and ‘adopted resolutions ‘denouncing and | condemning “the attempt of a Social- istic, self-appointed group of leaders ! | to eize control of our state.” In the} | third trict in Walsh county, ‘the Nonpartisans nanred’ Nels Grovan of Park River as committeeman, but in the fourth, J. H. Fraine of Grafton, an} independent, was named. i Weiler in La Monre Niek Weiler of Dickey, a Nonparti- jan, was elected committeeman in La Moure, county, the twenty-fourth dis- trict. ‘Phe convention-was completely dominated by the Nonpartisans. A Nonpartisan committeeman also was named in Morton county, the thir, ticth district, being J. J. Strain, a Dem- ocrat two years ago when elected to {the state legislature: He’was re-nom- inated June 30 by the Nonpartisans. The vote on the resolution endorsing the Chicago platform was 19 for, and; 12 against. ‘Two Ward Conventions Nonpartisans and Independents held separate conventions in Ward county, comprising the second and twenty- ninth districts. The Independents se- lected V. A. Corbett, committeeman, | from the twenty-ninth, and Seiling KJontvedt from the second. The Dem- ocrats named G. §, Wooledge and Sam H. Lowe. 2 Williams and McKenzie counties, comprising the forty-first, will elect a committeeman on July 28. The league will control the election. \ Nonpartisans in Control { The Nonpartisans controlled the meetings of precinct committeemen in Burke, Mercer, and~Foster counties, division. of districts, which will elect state committeemen next week. The Independents are in control‘in Steele county and the Nonpartisans in Griggs county, divisions of the {teenth district. The Independents als control the committee in Sioux county, a division of the forty-ninth district. A state committeeman for Adams, Het- tinger and Sioux counties will be elected at Mott on July 28. Precinct committeemen from Bill- ings, Bowman, Golden Valley, and Slope counties. will meet next week at }Medora. The Nonpartisans have a} major: of all committeemen. The ae {iman, and William jman fron Indeperidents control the Goiden Val- ley. committee. The Nonpartisans elected two com- mitteemen in McHenry county, which te the thirty-fourth and forty- cts. B. C. Buri was elected chairman, and H. M. Hendrickson, etary in the county. Ole Gilbert- son of Towner was elected commit- teoman from the thirty-fourth, and B. C. Buri of Balfour, from the forty- fifth. The Democrats named Independents 1 all cases. J. C. Eaton of Denbigh ;was elected. chairman, and p. J. O’Conrelly, secretary. F. lritz, of Towner, was -elected committeeman from the forty-fourth, and Herman lsinderman, of Balfour, from the forty- fifth. In Control in Grand Yorks The Independents, both Republican and Democrat, were in complete con-}. trol in the fifth, sixth and seventh ¢ tricts in Grand Forks county. The Re- j publicans elected Geo: Kanecn, chair- Alexander, secre- tary. J, D. Pierce was el ed com- mitteeman from the fifth district, J. D. Bacon from the sixth and George Rob- bins from the seventh, The Democrats named the follow- ing: Henry Holt, chairman; Henry Bjorgo, secretary; J, W-, Berkheimer, committeeman from the fifth; F. F. Burchard, committeeman from the sixth, and J. Nelson Kelly, committee- the seventh. The anti-Nonpartisans also» won in Pierce county, comprising the fort second district. H. C. Berdscherd w named chairman; George Watson, sec: retary, and F, T. Gronvold, commit- teeman. The Independents had 19 members and the Nonpartisans 11. For the Democrats, Dan McCollins was named chairman and Paul Gold- ade secretary. Sam Gruden was elect- ed committeggnan. Frank Hiland, an Independent, was named committeeman for . Ramsey county, the twenty-first district. Rollo F. Hunt was elected chairman, and Nels Crary, secreta T. Maloney was elected . chairman for the Demograts, and W. A. Fulker- son, secretary. J. H. Bloom was named committeeman, The convention was Nonpartisan controlied. Endorse Chicago Platform Cavalier county, comprising the eighteenth district, went for the In- dependents who controlled 28 of 40 committeemen. H. G. Halverson of Milton, was named committeeman; George M. Price, county chairman, and Wes. Mahon, secretary. Resolutions were ‘adopted endorsing the Chicago platform, and the return of the state government to the people and the ! political subdivisions The Independents also the Democratic convention. controlled John Ma- hon was elected chairman, and Ed. Fox, secretary. No committeeman was named. The convention in'M prising the fort: majority of 13. C. Lake, was elected chairman, and John Arngrimson of Washburn, s y. A. J. Loudenbreck of Garris named committeeman. No special res- olutions were adopted. The Democrats named Axel John: son, chairman; C. G. Forbes, secret and Joseph Mann. of Washburn, com- mitteeman. | Stark Committee | Nonpartisans Huston of ‘Turtle The . convention Stark. county, comprising the was. controlled *c. C. Turner of Dickin- rman, and E. L. two to one. son, was elected ¢ Peterson of Dickins ‘etary. Her- man Leutz of Taylor, named state committeeman. ‘The Independents als were in full control of the Democratic convention which named V. E. Chil- airman; J. P. secretary, and E, committee gren of Diékinson, Cain of Dickinson, J. Hughes of Dickinson, man, The Independents named the com mitteeman-in cach of the three dis- tricts in Cass county. L. L Twichetl of Farge, was. elected committeeman from the ninth district; Treadwell Twichell of Mapleton, from the tenth district, and W. W. Reed of Amenia, from.the eleventh district. Emerson Smith of Fargo, was named chairman ittee; John Pol- y, and Thomas treasurer. mn of the county lock of Fargo, McKenzie of Wild Ige, Thank Retiring Chairman M. The Democrats elected E. narnam county chairman. Hose of Fargo, was elected secretar: W. P. Porterfield of Fargo, treasurer. Mr. Porterfield was named committee- man from the ninth district and Mr. | New # Un i? XN mn Vanarnam from the eleventh. No com- mitteeman was named from the tenth district. A rising vote of thanks for his services was given John Wright of Casselton, for .five years chairman of the county committee. The Inde-} pendents also won in Pembina county, comprising the first district. Judson LaMoure elected chairman, and A. Bobbie, secretary. J. E. Lee ed committeeman. cted committec- of Neche, was na J. E. Garvey was e man for the Democrats. was anti-Townley. The ,Independents dominated the mecting in Stutsman county, compris- ing the twenty-third district, 40 votes to 34. 'T, W. Eddy’was elected commit- teeman, and J. W. Carr, chairman, of the county committee. W. B. Denault was named secretary. “i For the Democrats, George FE. Berg was elected chairman, J. C. Walker, secretary, and John B. Fried, commit- teeman. FALL FIGHT IN STATEONN, P, Democratic Chairman Expected to Propose Compromise Plan to Meeting c (Special to, ‘The. Tribune) Grand Forks. N. D., July 22.—Plan; for the fall campaign against the Non partisan league were discussed here today at a meeting of membdé¥s of the “committee of 21.” Eighteen members were represent- ed in person or by proxy and a num- ber of other political leaders were present, No @efinite action was tak- en at the morning session, the meet- ing not adjourning until afternoon be- cause other delegates were expected on the noon trains. €veinbjorn Johnson, chairman of the Democratic State Central com- mittee. w com promis plan of action at the meeting this afternoon. He was to Propose a unity of the Democrats and Republicans in the state cam- paign. RENEW RIOTS IN BELFAST REGION} Belfast. Ireland, July 22.—Rioting ; renewed in the falls area of west Belfast today. ‘fhe post office was wrecked and the police fired upon the rioters,’One soldier and several ciy- ilians, were wounded. Wi STROM WILL ‘D DEMOCRATS re-elected Hellstrom “was the Democratic county committee at their meeting in the Court House Wednesday afternoon. About a dozen members of the cen- tral committee met. and discussed conditions and prospeets for their y. Their organization throughout county ill be maintained, and sible. elected secretary oO. chairman of F. the strengthen John Fora of the committee. WANTED — Two neat appearing! young men to travel. Salary and commission. Apply between 6 and 8 p.m. or Sand 10 a.m. John Me- Govern, Grand Pacific Hotel. 7-22-1 MARKETS aS SOUTH ST. “PAUL Livestock * South St. Paul, July 22.—Hog re ceipts, 3,200. 25 cents lower. Range, $13.50 to $15.25, | De not try to became slen- der by drastic doses of thyroid or. salts. Reduce, weight and waistline; als tystem, The shadow on thispicture gives yéuan ideahowahelookedand felt, By taking Korein | and tolowinness directions of Koreinsystem | she redaced from clumsy teatures to,graceful oportions. Now sheis agile, attractive, men- fally alert and in better health. Why not you? Reliable anti-fat self-treatment. Become Slender and Stay So | Many, both sexes, report they have reduced 10to 60 pounds. No starving; no exhaustin, exercises. Become exquisitely slender an remain, 40. Safe. pleasant method, endor hysicians. Legions of testimonials, $100 GUARANTEE or money Tefund. Buy ‘Korein (pronounced, koreen) et busy druggiate’, Show fat friends this, ADVERTISEMENT. The meeting + LEAGUE TALKED expected to submit aj in ARY ELLEN COMES TO TOWN” i | | ! Itinge UOROUTDUEUHCTEOUUSUERETTEAATCEUTELEEDOUD SOLE AUULEPRET CEASA SOTTO Tonight at 7:30 and 9:00 DOROTHY GISH Nuff Said and Plenty Cleanest! Coolest! Most Comfortable! Tomorrow and Saturday WM. S. HART in Newest big feature “SAND” “No Advance in Prices” B Tomorrow & Saturday “THE LONE HAND” . All the Big. Star's exclusively ‘at’ the |Eltinge and vitae Thedties ¢ ISMARC ~_ THEATRE TONIGHT Last Showing Trene Castle in “THE AMATEUR WIFE” K Double Featare Bill Doris May__. “MARY’S ANKLE” " Worth Going Miles to See Hoot Gibson the Fighting Terror ini Bulk, $14.00 to $14.50. Cattle receip Fat Cows and hei to $14. . 340, Killers steady. S, $6.50 ta $15.50. 0 to $1 ste 00, Calves, steady, 75 cents lowe: 50 00. : Stockers and feeders, steady to 25 to $12.50, ipts, 700. * 0 to $15.00. Chicago, July 22.—Cattle receipts, | 10,000. steers, steck weak canners, steady. CHICAGO LIVESTOCK Best yearling and heavyweight stead, Heavies dull. Grassy Bulls, he Stockers firm, and best! Hog receipts. 29,000; 15 cents lower. Top. $16.40. Bulk light and butchers, 7.v.40-to $10.30, Pigs quiet. Desirable | kind, $13.40 to $14.40. ; _ Sheep receip 18,000, Slow. West- | ern lambs stea ly to higher. Native lambs 15 to 25 cents lower. Bulk na- tive lambs, $14.09 to $14.50. | i i Minneapolis—Wheat receipts 152 cars compared with 175 cars a year ‘Vagos Cash No. 1 northern $2.90 to $2: 95. Corn No. 3 yellow $1.54 to $1.56. Oats No. 3 white 93¢ to 95c. 5 | Flour unchanged to 25 cents high- er. Shipments 62,318 barrels, Barley 92c¢ to $1.15. R Bran 48¢ to 49. : o AT SCHEBLER’S BARN | - FRIDAY, JULY 23rd" Robinson, Baritone Singer, will also be there ov ' MeDONAED’S ORCHESTRA <3" * COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPHS : COLUMBIA RECORDS ON EASY‘ TERMS IF DESIRED | COWAN’S. DRUG STORE Nn iit TURN ai TEST lel Ghe CuRTIS HOTEL ‘Tenth Street at Fourth Ave. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA HE largest, finest and most modern Transient Hotel in the Northwest—widely famous for its comfortable, homelike Accommodations. ional facilities for Society Functions and for Recrea- Attractive main-floor Restaurant, with Service ° both table d’hote and a la carte. tion, RATES: Rooms, Private Baths Single $2.09 Double $3.00 Rooms, Private Baths Single $2.50 Double $3.50 325 Rooms, Private Baths Single $3.00 Double $4.00 Others, $4.00 ‘to $8.00 200 Safe Dep Deposit Except- Facilities HEN the matter W of service, together with the absolute safety afforded by our fire and burglar proof vault is given due consideration, the nominal fees we charge seem very reasonable. Every convenience is afforded for our Safe Deposit Patrons. Boxes rent for $2.50 per year and upwards, according to size. ATIONAL BISMARCK, N.D The Oldest and Lar est Bank inthis section of the State