The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-04-20
WEISBERGER,S APRIL JOKE.
The Citizens of Lebanon Take In Hook and
Bait.
An April ExempIiication OF Standard
Folly.
From the ~, Lou;s Democrat

The public authorities, business men ant
other citizens Of Lebanon had a cruel Apri
fooi played upon them on Sunday last by G
Weisberger, an extensive coal operator il
the same place. As has been reported IL
this paper, the extensive Helmbacher Iror
Manufacturing company Of st. Louis have de
t,rrined to remove their works from that city
and have been visiting Belleville and otbe
places LOOKING for All advantageous location
So Mr.. Welsberger took this as a grount
work for an April-the first joke upon hi:
fellow citizens. Saturday he returned from
st. LOUIS and reported to Mayor Webb
several business men aud others, that while
in st. Louis that day he had been approach
ed by the president and directors of the
Helmbacher Forge company concerning
the removal of their work to Lebanon
and that on Sunday the said president and
directors would arrive in Lebanon on the
noon train to investigate the advantages
offered by the city of Lebanon for the loca
lion Of their immense iron works. This in.
formation had magical effect upon those to
.whomi it vas impaired, and they plainly saw
Lebanon was to become the Pittsburg of the
west. The mayor called session of the city
council to discuss the windfall in store for the
city, an d make proper arrangements for the
reception of the forge works company, and
show them about the city and present the ad
vantages Lebanon had for iron industries.
Savaral lpadinu h,,cipaso ~, ap ;ssnad ,a N
for meeting of all the business men to as
semble that evening fer the same purpose as
that which had called the city council to-
gether. The glowing future of heretofore
quiet and dull Lebanon was discussed, sew
eral proclaiming that they always knew that
Lebanon had grand future In store, or else
they never would have located in it. One
grave and gray haired man mentioned that
the proper thing to do in the premises, was
to Immediately organize board of trade,
something that Lebanon had as much use
for as prayer meeting had for billy goat.
But this elderly business man claimed that
Belleville had board of trade, and the
Helmbacher folks had been there and that
they would look with disfsvor upon any city
as location for their forge works that did
not revel in board of trade. The idea took
like wild fire. and board of trade was i'm
mediately organized, though there was at
first difficulty in doing this as no one knew
exactly what the objects of board of trade
were. But this was gotten over by resolving
ty~s s.,rt nnn ln. - e, l. -.
officers, appoint committee to receive the
Helmbachers and adopt constitution and by
laws, and settle other details at future
meeting. This was all done. Then the
bankers held a meeting aud also appointed
committee of reception. The common citi-
zens also assembled in the town hall and
adopted resolutions welcoming the iron
workers to Lebanon, and also appointing a
committee on reception TO act In conjuuc.
tion with the other reception committees.
These proceedings were telegraphed to aud
published in the ST. Louis papers on Sunday
morning. Sunday, April /, arrived, aud all
Lebanon was asir, every one wearing his
best clothes to impress favorably the Helm.
bachers. Tue committees of the council the
embryo board of trade, the bankers and the
citizens met and agreed upon plan of ac-
tion, etc. The best hotel in the place was
authorized to have grand lunch a. tive
O'Clock, with wines, ETC., for the edifcation of
the Helmbachers. Carriages were procured
and the reception committees under the
and Of
Chamberlain and Banker Jim Baker, proceed
ed to the depot. Those who owned gold
headed canes had given them an extra polish
that morning and silk hats were carefully
brushed.
At the depot, besides the committee of
reception, there were hundreds of men,
women and children awaiting with feverish
anxiety the arrival of the train from st.
Lsuis, which was to bring them the Helm
bacher Iron Works men.
The train at length arrived, aud the COM
mittees sprang fer the cars to grasp the hands
of their expected visiting capitalists. The
conductor aud brakeman and the porter
only alighted. "Perhaps," the train men
have not cried out "Lebanon,n said Mayor
Webb, "That's so," said Merchant Chamber
lain, "Let's see about it," exclaimed Banker
Baker. They did see about 1t, but Lebanon
had heen cried outand none had moved from
their seats, and the conductor further In
formed them that no one was on the train
who had ticket for or had paid his fare to
Lebanon. The conductor signalled to the
engineer TO go ahead and the train moved off
aud no Helmbachers were In Leoanon. The
reception committee were all erestfallen
ever their non. arrival, and 1t was suggested
that the forge people had missed the train.
But the committee resolved to drive in their
carriages, followed by the crowd of people.
10 the residence of Weisberaer, the coal
operator, and inform him of the miscue of
the day. Wsisberger was standing on the
front perch as the assembage drove and
walked up. lie was coBvalsed with laugh
Ter and shouting, "Aprl fool; April foo.r'
Then 1t dawned upon the excited populacs
bow they had been done for by the ceal
operator Weisberger and what fools they
had, sure enough, made of themselves
through the April-first sell of the operator.
Numbers of them funed and swore aud
threatened violence, and Wsisberger found
that the feeling against him was so great and
bitter that he concluded It best TO retire
within the house, which be did, locking the
doors behind him. II can be imagined with
what feelings the city officials, and business
men, the bankers and the commen citizens
wended their way home. The churches
were poorly attended that day. The hotel
dinner Is unsettled, but must be paid for.
No further action will be taken to perfect
the organization Of the board of trade. The
reception committees are discharged. The
Heimbaeher forge works will not go to
Lebanon. And Lebanon will be the same In
the future As In the past. and the students of
the college viii pursue their studies nu-
mol. ssed by sounds of The hammer, roll Of
the mill or the evil effects of the sooty
smoke.
General o. o. Howard made the last treaty
with the Chirieahua Indians, now raiding In
Arizona He did IL, as he said. s.by the grace
OF God and prayer All the parties to the
treaty, except the Indians, appear 10 have
been badly leff.-0gdea Pilot.