River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-07-28
The Scandal.

ACCOUNT OI CIlililIftiie1 Oh eiiC pdit Va
Elder Atwater of this village. OF
course this excited much attention
and comment, while at the same time
the feeling among the community was
as if shock had passed over it. At
/ ter the first effect had passed away
the comments among the people evinc-
ed the gratifying feature that Mr.. At
water had during his residence in the
place so gained the confidence of and
endeared himself to this people that
no credenee was given to the report,
| aud while the Elder is surrounded by
net of circumstances which seem to
him very dark his friends believe that
the cloud will lift and that his charac-
ter will be ut the end fully indicated.
The principal facts in the matter as
we gather them from the published
statements and also from interviews
with those who have been on the
ground and made such investigation
as could be made in the case are as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Atwater has had for some years
past at intervals as member of his
family Miss Kate Northrup who has
become greatly endeared to himself
and wife by her kindly assistance
when they have needed help. Under
Mr.. Atwater's ministration Miss
Northrup has accepted religious truth
and has united with the Hammond
church and has always borne an I'M
blemished reputation. She has been
accustomed to consult Mr.. Atwater on
her matters of business and especially
as to her places of employment as a
teacher when it was convenient TO do
so. On Sunday evening, July 10th,
the Elder preached at Hammond and
at the close of the service the young
lady said to him that she would like
to have a conference with him at as
early time as convenient, but as she
had company at that time it was not
lOl bltC NlON W tGlhC
place then and so it was agreed that
she should meet him at Knapp Sta
ton where she was teaching when he
passed through the place on his way
to his appointment at Menomonie on
the 23d. During the week it occurred
to him that he could not reach the
place on the train suggested. and SO
he notified her by mail, but as it chanc-
ed he was able to reach Knapp on an
early morning train and so concluded
to stop over train and see her which
he did, meeting her at her boarding
house. Owing to the fact that at the
time the parlor was occupied it was
suggested that they take Il short walk
and so they passed out OF the house in
full view of the village and went
short distance UP the bluff and finding
a convenient place sat down. 1t seems
that their departure from the house
had been noticed by some mill hands
and with that instinct OF indecent GU
riosity which pervades some men two
Of them followed up the hill and claim
to have seen some things which show
ed criminal intimacy between the
parties. This however is denied in
toto by both Mr.. Atwater and Miss
Northrup. Their statement is that on
being seated the conversation turned
upon the subject of dancing which it
seems Miss Northrup had INDUCED in
and the minister feeling it to be incon-
sistent with her profession kindly re.
buked and so placed the matter before
her that for few moments she was
ovarco,,,na and wept, but on recover
ing herself she reasoned with him
evincing her desire 20 do what was
right and her determination to act III
such manner in the future as to
maintain her christian character.
A fter remaining at the place for some
little time they were aroused by the
sound of voices and the gentleman
arising found several young men Ill
their immediate vicinity who asked
him some Indifferent question and
passed by. The lady and gentleman
returned to the village and on reach
| ING the house were aStounded by the
story that criminal acts had taken
place on the bluff. Mr.. Atwater did
not hesitate to ask to be confronted
with those who made the accusation.
but unfortunately the young men had
gone to the saloon and there surround
ed by their boon companions they
made a bold front and refused to re-
tract their statements.
We have stated the facts quite fully.
as we have learned them and will only
add that it is n gratifying fact that
the community here where Mr. At
water is well known, place no cre'
dence in the dark side of the story.
Whatever the motive of these young
men may be we cannot tell, but III
| Sucn case as InlS Il CHIlSIldiI Ch"i" az
ter maintained for more than twenty
years should far outweigh the idle,
obscene story of men who would be
mean enough to seek for evil in the
way these scandalmongeFs have done.
Those who have taken the utmost
pains to investigate the facts III the
case are fully convinced that while
there is a network of circumstances
exceedingly unfortunate and which
eyince on the part of the parties an
imprudence, that there is not a shad'
ow of guilt and this the very impru-
dence goes to confirm.
S. Bolles. of Polk Co., has a fig tree
bearing fruit the first ever raised in
this section. 1t WAS started III Flori-
da three years ago.-1rUe Republican.
It is fact that horse dealers are
buying horses with ringbones and
spavins because they can make money
| -, .,.t,,, II apd,Il'o Cpovir, 1ura