The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-06-03


Backstrap by the passengers conveyed in hi.
omnibus from the steamer Southern Mich gar
to the Plantagenet Hotel The presentation
speech was delivered by Mr.. Phule but wheth
er it was "D. Phule, Esq" the account doe:
not say
Mr.. Backstrap was seated on the outer ed &c
OF Llue velvet lounge in the ladies' parlor
and held his hat between his legs in very mod,
est manner. His efforts at hiding his whip be-
hind his ANGLES were ingenious and pleasing
The passengers arose and stood in IA half circle
before him. MI. Willam Backs.rap''-' that s
the ticket. sir!'' said Mr.. Backstrap, intelli-
gently closing one of his eyes Mr.. William
Backstrap" resumed Mr.. Phulc, why are We
here :" If there arose in Mr.. Back>trap's mind
desire to answer. because We ain THAR it
was soon checked by the orators continuing
" We are here to honor merit. Why, Mr.. Back
strap, do We honor merit. Because it is better
to be landed safely than to DC wrecked upon
the voyage. Pcrils OF lanp-posts and Of OPP
posing hubs. bad pavcmcnls and the trlitOrouS
devices Of competition eLcirclc the omnibus
passenger aud the ark OF his hopes. fou evad-
ed these, William Back>trap, with mastery skill
and courage. You bailled an insidious attempt
of an unprnciple1 solicitor to decoy US to the
Universal Dominion, an inferior hotel. You
were mighty in the use of that cocrcivc dialect,
which, though elsewhere deemed profane swear
ing. the exi.cncics of trade and travel have es
tablishcd upon The docks as an element of order
and an aid to justice. Why, William Backstrap
do we speak of order and make mention OF JUS
tice. Eccausc they beautifully herald the bril-
liant triumph of art, which carefully cherish
in my back coat pocket, and which, William
Back>trap, now produce.
The curry comb was here taken out. and Mr.
Rorl -fr in tho # rnn n IT. mar inn
diatey hid the better part Of his countenaucc
behind a IT d cotton ha ldkcrchief spiritcdly or
namentcd with the p:cturc of trotting match.
Notwithstanding his emotion, however. he was
enabled to keep his ri bt eye uncovered, with
which to |. We respectful attention to the pro-
ceedings. Accept, William Backstrap. this
silver curry comb. as IA slight testimonial Of our
respect and gratitude for the devotion, courage
and skill displayed by you OH the ,st trip of
your omnibus from the Southern Michigan to
the rlantagenet House.
Mr.. BackstIap. completely overcome by
his feelings. took the curry comb and stuffed it
into his hat. and with Il graceful backward mo
tion OF his right leg. and Il short bow. he gath
cred up his whip and lett the room. In the hall
he relieved his feelings 10y drawing his breath
deeply, and then took out the curry comb, and
regarded it for while with looks OF affection
and curiosity. 4" If this erc,'' said Mr.. Back
"t'"P. UP thS 'looeS IN itoS tHth ~.io,
hope to be spawned >
THE 1" kNow-NornINGs' IN TROUBLE. - The
following appears in the Ncw-York Times of
tbs 18TH
The order OF now-Nothings' is likely to
achieve notoricty. Yesterday morning the
Lower Police Office was the scene of an affair
in which some members of this secret organiZa-
ton were involved in difficulty. y member,
whose fidelity was afterwards suspected was
admitted to the order not long since, and q
close watch kept upon his movements. \ few
weeks ago, a letter was published in the Cou-
rcr and Enquirer, which purportcd to he writ
ten by one Elliott, member of the Native
American organization. 1t was addressed to
Roman Catholic priest, and announced the wish
OF the writer to divulge all the secrets of
the Order. and to make Il full exposure Of the
system. The consideration named for this act
was 10000 dollars. y person of the same name
was Secretary Of the Order he was believed
to be the individual who addressed this letter
to the priest, and arrangements arc said to have
been made TO secure the constitution and bye
laws which were in his possession.
Nothing more WAS heard of the matter until
a man named James Elliott appeared before
Justice Osborne at the ToOmbs, and preferred a
charge against three members of the Order. ac-
cuSing them of stealing leather trunk from
his Office. at No. 81 Nassau street. In his af
davit he setsforth that the trunk contained 1872
copies OF the bylaws OF the order. besides other
papers, and a considerable amount OF money.
The complainant assured the magistrate that
be could bring 4 witness who saw the defer d.
ants carry the trunk out OF the building.
warrant was then issued for their arrest and
was placed i'll the hands o! officer Webb. who
took them into custody in the course of the af-
tcrnoon. but being responsible persons the
Court allowed them to 90.
Yesterday the prosecutor again came into
Court and informed the Justice that his life was
in danger. 1t seems he had received package
of anonymous letters, written in different styles
which were OF character calculated to shock
his nerves. One OF the letters went on to say
/" You are an Infamous traitor; depend upon it
your course is known; for it, you will yet suffer
dcath!' In rather nIldcr tone the document
then reads thus: - You, OF course. remember
was thrown over the Falls OF Niagara. Now