Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-07-28

Who Would Have Bought Tickets if
They Had Had their Back Pay.
Modification Tuesday,
Su Ii would be proper appelation TO
commemorate the day set apart by loyal
Minneapolitans, in the name of charity,
for the gathering of aims for the unco'
guild Bill Washburn. How and when the
distinguished member of Congress from
the Third Minnesota district became subject
for alms giving, is not exactly known, espe-
cially since the days of that famous "assign-
ment" and its consequent European trip, dur
ing which, as if by the waving of the magic
wand of Hermes, pine barrens were converted
into gold fields, and a clear surplus realized
of something over a quarter OF a million
dollars
just when Bill became mendicant, as
would now seem to be the case, does not now
clearly appear, yet it is certain that some
weeks ago a movement was started for COM
plimentary benefit, the avowed object of which
was TO put money into his purse. The move
ment ultimately took shape, and committee
was appointed to canvass the city for an e1-
cursion over Bul's own road and on his own
boat. At the end of personal select can
vass,' lasting a week, some 240 tickets had
been pressed upon an unwilling public,
and paid for at the rate
of - per head. The canvass
must have been tough and uphill work from
the outset, as one of the committee is known
to have remarked to a confidential friend:
''You talk about working in the lower levels
| of Nevada mine; I'll take that in preference
! to another day of this"
| The day fixed for the "beneit," at s. head
arrived at last, and the GLOBE, curious to
! learn the outcome of the affair, donated the
further sum of S5 to the charity fund, max
j ing The 241st ticket sold. The advertised time
for starting was $50, but a considerable de-
LAY ensued, which was repeated at several other
points on the way to the lake. A glance at the
train showed it consisted of the engine, Isaac
Atwater, and some ten coaches, all but three
of which had been borrowed from other roads.
An attempt had been made to decorate the en-
gine with streamers stretched lengthwise and
with flags, but had evidently been abandoned,
probably on the score of expense, as Bill was
in this respect as in all Others pertaining to
the s'beneft" at $5 head, careful not to let
the preparations eat up too much of the piofts
of the affair. a passage through the train, in
one of the many Stoppages that ensued, showed
that all the cars were pretty we'll filled except
: two, a fact which would indicate the presence
of some $50 or thereabouts. Each ticket al
lowed the presence of a lady as well as gen.
tleman.
A LIFE SACRIFICED FOR wASHBURN.
AL Hopkins station still another delay en-
sued, owing to the presence on the track of
one of the disabled engines whose collision, a
short time before, had sent the spirit of poor
Minnie Reeves feeting heaVenward. There is
no doubt this lady's life has been needlessly
and cruelty sacrificed by the most culpable
negligence, which has no extenuation or ex-
cuse, save in the partial dementia of the en-
ploycs of the road, caused by the fact that all
were 4 ware that Bill Washburn's ''benefit" was
! to be looked after regardless of consequences
to Others. Morally and equitably, Washburn's
benefit is responsible for the lady's death.
An engine had already been sent out to
clear The road for the ''benefit'' train, but in
their anxety to have no obstacle interposed TO
its successful operation, inasmuch, as it car
ried the Iordly Bill Washburn himself, Sec
iond was started out on the same mission.
Both were running wild and hence the COLI
sion which might have Inevitably been OK
Ipected. But for the Washburn benefit busI-
ness Minnie Reeves would have been alive and
uninlured, instead of a cold, pulseless, scarce
recogniz ible form, and this reflection is suf-
ldclent to the minds of all fair minded people
to condemn the Washburn benefit business
: for ell time. Her friends should see that his
road renders such recompense as money can
ksuprly for such culpable calamity.
From the outset the excursion victims had
not been iu very enjoyable mood. Even then
, dullness and stupor reigned supreme. The
men for the most part maintained moody ST.
lsncc, and even the ladies exhibited few symp-
i toms of the loquacious propensities usually
attributed to their sex. A pail, as of gloom,
seeped to settle over the crowd which the sac
ri6ce Of poor Miss Reeves life seemed in 10
wise TO dissipate, though it by no means occa-
stoned the solemnity. In almost every face
could b. read the mental interrogatory "why
am | here to-day, and what am | doing:
bWoud it not be better TO be at home" All
these and many more were doubtless fitting
through the minds of the audience, and it is
doubtful whether any of these mental queries
were satisfactorily answered, even to them
selves This mental condition not only con-
duced 10 maintain a moody silence but actual
" led to bashful and shamefaced look which
Nis explicable upon no other theory than OF
5beipg abashed and well nigh disgusted at par
Eticipating in such reprehensible and un-
worthy proceeding as giving aims to
Nv. u. Washburn. This feeling, it is needless