Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-06-12

4 the past only as the geologisl ac-
| quires it in the study of tho rocks,
by reading the imprint tbAl vestiges
| of the animal and vegetable kingdom
have left impressed beneath their
/ hard and silent surface. Themselves
living historical facts and when Iii
vested of extraneous broken,
compared and thoroughly examined,
contain all the evidences of prehis.
toric existence.
To such sources as these must the
writer of early events in place like
Paris resort Tor all the historical in
formation he would convey to make
up the story of its birth. As the old
soldier loves to fight his battles over
again and will occasionally illuminate
his subject with some heroic deed or
hazardous exploit wherein himself
was mdgnus pars fui, SO does the old
settler love to interard bis recollec-
tons of early times with the msrve.
lous and strange and occasionally in.
terpolate some daring action or hap
Ply occasion in which be played q
conspicuous part. 1t is only q few
years since your journal, the HER
AID, published sensational story
making this once fiourishing villa .
den of thieves and the rendezvous of
gang Of outlaws and robbers.
Marcus d. Briggs, an old aud re-
spected citizen of the county, who
established and kept a ferry here,
and who was the proprietor OF the
principal hotel at that time, was
made to appear as desperate char
acter and the confederate of that
class of men whose deeds of robbery
and murder furnished the sensational
literature of all new mining coun-
tries. Briggs, as many viii remem-
Der, was famous for telling big sto.
rles. He could kill bigger deer and
more of them and at longer range
than any man in the country. The
miraculous story of the Nazarene
fisherman was an ordinary event at
ter Briggs had told of one of his
hauls down at The mouth OF Platte.
Beyond this proclivity he was good
citizen and worthy man. His stories
were told more to excite the creduH-
ty of his hearers than for any base
motive he might have in view. The
writer enjoyed his friendship for
many years and in this reference
seeks to remove rather han cast shad
ow ever his grave; as he sincerely
believes that he was man innoceAt
of wrong, upright in his dealings and
when it concerned moral question,
truthful in his language 10 the fullest
degree.
Coming down to the year 1880 l
find the name of DetaDtabaratz,
(sometimes called Detan and Detan-
tebar for shorD has usurped the
place of and overshadowsd all 9TH
ers in the history Of Paris. He was
the Napoleon of his time, whose sin
gle name involved the history of all
others and gives form and lustre to the
age in which he lived. He was
young man from ST. Louis and came
as an assistant clerk in the estat lish-
ment of Tou LIE JON He had not
been long there when he arose TO be
chief manager and soon succeeded
to the control and ownership Of the
whole concern. Enterprising, prompt,
active, generous to fault, aud pos
sessed of an unlimited credit both in
Galena and st. Louis, he apparently
prospered, and under his sway Paris
fiourished and became lively pros
pective city. The pecullarities AMI
generosities OF the man soon became
proverbial throughout the mines aud
the influx Of trade, pleasure, amusc.
ments and business centered around
his name. At balls and parties,
horse races aud all public gatherings
Detan was seen to put in an early
appearance and was bright partic-
utar star upon the occasion until Gas
&c sometimes happened) he got n lit.
tie obscured by too much wine. Then
some friendly hand would put HIM
in his little skunk" and ''nsture's
sweet restorer, bslmy sleep" would
soon make all things fair and lovely.
The ladies smiled in bis presence and
courted his company, because they
saw husband, home and family joys
reflected in his countenance, and the
men did the same for the more pc
tent reason that he was a whole soul
ed, jolly good fellow from whom
they could get the loan OF dollar, a
suit of clothes or mining "stake"
on credit. At this time David G.
Bates was we'll known throughout
the mines as wealthy influential cit.
izen of Galena. He was the owner Of
much valuable property, made ad-
vances on lead, operated q furnace,
run store and was regarded as one
of the solid men of the place. In
the usual course of business Detan
became intimately acquainted with
him and as acquaintance often ripens
into confidence, the two were soon
upon the most confidential business
terms. Bates was shrewd obser-
yer of men and events and being a
money loaner he thought he saw in
the ingenious, GO ahead Frenchman q
chance for speculation. Detan often
had occasion for the use Of large
sums of money and while everything
remained smooth and promising,
Bates advanced him freely. But
there is tide in the affairs of men
which if not wholly scanned leaves
him night and day on the shores of
poverty. 1t YVES likely to be so in
the case OF our hero Frenchman and
Bates as careful man began to
look after him and his affairs. This
lead TO a GOODNESS between them, an
alteration followed and finally open
hostilities. The casus bell is not
apparent at this distance OF time
and l win not attempt to explain it,
but it was given on the part Of the
Frenchman and resented BY his
quondsm friend and hacker. Bates,
being q. man of Southern birth and
education, could only be governed
in the settlement of the dispute be.
tween them by the rules governing
all Southern gentlemen laid down in
| the code OF honor. Accordingly be
challenged Detantabar to mortal