Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-13
. HISTORICAL SOCLETT.

A Generous Gift from James j. HilI-In-
teresting Pfoa eedings.
The Minnesota Historical society held
its regular meeting last night in It's dingy
apartments in the Market house, the last,
however, which will be held in those quar-
tiers. Vice President Blakeley presided.
Some interesting and valuable gifts were
announced.
letter was received from Gen. Sibley,
the president of the society, enclosing one
from DR.. Draper, secretary of the Wiscon-
sin Historical society, asking for 1nforma-
ton about Capt. Duncan Graham and
Dease, two old traders in this region. Gen.
S. had sent DR.. Draper what information
he could, and thought that among the
manuscripts belonging to the society some
further facts could be found.
ANOTHER $4,000 SUBSCRIPTION.
Gen. Sibley also added in his note that
| James J. Hill had promised to give $4,000
towards the building fund of the society.
This makes the total amount secured by
Gen. Sibley 100000.
@. NJ. Loring, ESD, of Minneapolis. was
elected life member of the society.
EARLY sTEAMBoATING ON THE MINNESOTA
RIVER.
Capt. Edwin Bell, one of the earliest
steamboatmen on the upper waters, pre-
sented paper giving an account of incl
dents connected with pioneer navigation
of that river. The paper was mainly de-
voted to a narrative of trips to the extreme
upper part of the river, with goods for In
dian payments, or for Indian traders sta
toned there. Below the mouth of the
Blue Earth river, navigation was compare
lively easy in fair stage of water, but
much beyond that point it was
vexation and trouble. The riv-
er was first navigated by boats
in 1S50,and for some dozen years after that
boats ran quite frequently, especially in
seasons of good water. After the railroad
was built the steamboat trade declined.
Capt. Bell gives an amusing account of
the JOY of the savage5 at the arrival of the
boats containing supplies of food and
clothing for them. They knew this meant
plenty and satisfaction, and feast usually
followed. Capt.Robert,an old time trader,
once owner of nearly half the townsite of
ST. Paul,was a prominent shipper of goods
to the lower agency, and many tri rs were
made by Capt. Bell in carrying up his goods,
of which he always had large cargo.
Capt. Robert very frequently met with
heavy losses by the sinking of boats, fires,
etc. On one occasion Capt. Bells boat ran
on rock below the agency, and Capt.
Robert ordered the goods banked. While
there prairie fire occurred, and they were
all destroyed. Some pleasant instances
of the generosity OF "Capt. Lou-ee," as
the Freach squatters used to call him, are
given.
Among other incidents an account is
given of trip to Camp Pope in 1868 with
supplies for Sibley's expedition. The
boat had large quantity of powder stored
in the hold under the forward hatch. Near
New Ulm the boat caught fire right over
this spot. 1t was run ashore,
when nearly everybody fled to the woods
to escape the expected explosion. Capt.
B. got some of the crew, applied hose to
the fire and checked it ia time to save the
boat. It was a close call. The boat never
reached Camp Pope. It grounded three
rniles below. Major RewsOn. quartermas
ter, received the supplies there, and hauled
them into camp. A few barrels of pork
were thrown overheard when the fire &C.
Cured, and were found on the bottom of
the river, eighteen years afterward. Capt.
Bells paper was listened to with much in
teFest and q vote OF thanks returned to him.
Mr.. Hamilton mentioned the importance
of an early completion of the catalogue
of the society's valuable library, and urged
that it be finished so as to be ready for
print by the close of next year. On his
motion the secretary was requested to take
such measures as would accomplish this.
After considering some minor details of
business, the society adjourned.
*&*"Men are but sorry witnesses in their own
cause" The praise of Mdney-Wort comes
from the mouths of those who have been made
strong and healthy by it. Listen: sit is curing
eVerybody," writes druggist. ''Kidney-Wort
Is the most popular medicine we sell" 1t
should be by right, for no other medicine has
such specific action on the liver, bowels and
kidneys.