Morris tribune., 1883-08-15
PROCTOR KNOTT, MINNEAPOLIS,
DULUTH AND SUPERIOR CITY.

Proctor Knott's speech, upon that
place, and always fails to give the
particulars concerning it at length, it
will excuse us for doing so for its
benefit. This famous Kentucky orator,
upon going to congress felt as if he
ought to do something to distinguish
himself, and at the same time if posi-
BILE, replenish his depleted bank ac-
count, which had gone down below
par. His ambition having reached the
ears of few of his most ardent adj
mirers, it was finally arranged, as the
following sequel will show how he
was to do it. In the beginning several
Southern visitors, and spectators
in Superior City lots and lands were
being toasted at a wine supper given
by land holders, mill, and mill site
owners in Minneapolis, at which time
and place, the subject of conflicting
interests between the two places were
extensively discussed, and it was finally
admitted by all present, that the
building up of even large town at
Superior City, in Wisconsin, could in
no way harm the City of Minneapolis.
At this point, the bottle was again
passed around, and all hands having
contributed to their inward sociability,
one of the Minneapolis, mill-ground
owners, remarked that his town and Su-
perior City, could both exist upon the
face of the earth at the same time, but
that Duluth, was a natural, and a
deadlyenemy to the future welfare of
each, and it would be to their mutual
interest, if Duluth could be wiped out
forever. Again the bottle was passed
around, as if to sharpen up inventive
genious, and the doors were closed to
silently hit upon the best possible
method of getting rid of their mon
strous hated rival. Minneapolis sug-
gested, that speech in congress at
that particular time burlesgueing, polk
ing fun at, and ridiculing Duluth
would be the tEing. Some suggested
that Sunset Cox be employed for the
purpose, but to this, the South OBJ
jected, they were fearful lest that
funny man might be bought off, or
divulge the secret, so as to spoil it's
effect. A man from the South was
finally agreed upon, and who after
wards proved to be, the famous Proctor
Knott. This speech was the produc-
ton of eight or ten cunning heads,
and was five times revised before it
went into the head of orator Knott.
Only one of the speech writer's had
ever seen Duluth, but as it was decided
to burlesque the town, its facts, and
figures, it made no difference how far
they varied from the truth. Mime
apolis came to her feet quite often dur
ing the discussion and spoke loud and
elegantly in favor of the plot, she
was exceedingly anxious that no meaI S
should be spared to make the move
ment certainly successful, and keep
she subscribed most literally to the
fund. The writer's of the speech were
to have $780,, and Knott was prom
ised $25, 600. in blocks, and corner lots,
in the to be great Superior City. He
was heard to say: "this is the proudest
hour of my life, my furtune is surely
made, Duluth must die, and Superior
City must arise Phoenix like from it's
ashes.n No one could account for the
deep interest which Minneapolis was
taking in putting up this job, it was SO
far from her limits, and yet it seemed
so near and dear to her heart.
Mr.. Knott committed the prepared
speech to memory, the occasion for it's
delivery in congress, was arranged for
by the two sets of friends, there pres
ent, when Mr.. Knott brought down
the house; and all who have read that
speech poking such keen fun at
Duluth, did so with sides bursting
with laughter; and "the Zenith City
from which one could start and go to
any part of the world" was in one
short hour killed as dead, as it is now
made alive. But the story is not yet
finished. Mr.. Knott who had appa-
rently worked so faithfully, and filled
the bill in the midst of SO much APP
plause, rather overloaded his stomach,
for in ridiculing Duluth to death, he
had unwittingly killed Superior City
where laid his blocks and corner lots,
the value of which were reduced to
simply nothing, and all done at the