St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-28

i ability, and has been only waiting for an OPP
,portunity to show the world what be could
have done-had he had chaucel But it
never came!
| NATHANIEL E. TYSON.
Tyson was pretty generally known by all
the old settlers. In his way be was char
acter; talf well proportioned; active;
| loud-speakine; he impressed a stran-
ger with his importance, and yet be
was man more of hustle than merit. He.
was born about 1924; came 10 ST. Paul ia
| 1852; kept grocery stone with John Cath
cart. backed by Jus. Ramsey, (both now
dead on the corner OF Fourth and Robert
streets.
THAT WHISKY.
| He ran for county treasurer, and furn-
sbed one of his political friends barrel of
whisky with which to advance his cause,
when, late in the Afternoon Of the day OF
election, he went around to see how matters
were getting along, and then discovered his
friend very tired and treating his political
enemies to copious draughts of his own
whisky. He made this discovery only
in time to save a few drinks, and
Nat was bursting mad, but that did not save
him--he lost the office he wanted, also a bar
y
erous friend. Later along he ran a grocery
store on Third street, and left the city some
time in either the year 1858 or 1859, and has
dropped out Of sight and almost out OF mem
DRY.
JAMES NJ. CURRAN.
Mr. Curran was born in ireland about
the year 1906; came to st. Paul
in 1851; opened a large dry goods store on
II a
for that early DAY carried on an extensive
trade. His two beautiful daughters clerked
for him, and 'Curran's Worlds Fair Store,
was rs well known in ST. Paul in 1851 as
Stewards used 10 be in New York in later
years.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
About this time there was a law upon the
Territorial Statute book authorizing impris-
onment for debt, and in the little old,
dark, weather-beateu, implanted, one story
wooden jail, which stood near where the
present stone one now stands, several per-
sons had been confined because they could
not discharge tbeir honest obligations, and
one prisoner died in Jail before he could sat
isfy the demands of his creditors. And this
occurred right in the city Of ST. PAUL. Cur
ran was just the man 10 push business, and
advice OF his lawyer stepped across into Wis
consin to save himself from criminal arrest.
The necessity for this act brought the in
dignation of his friends, and indeed the,in-
dignation of ali the friends Of those who were,
or might become, financially unfor-
tunate, and Judge Goodrich stepped
to the front as the champion OF the repeal Of
this obnoxious law, and prepared a bill for
that purpose which was presented to the
legislature of 1854. "Bill Davis" of this
city, a member of the house, had the bill in
charge, and we think after il had passed the
lower branch of the legislature, and had gone
into the hands of the engrossing clerk. it
could no where be found, and the clerk
claimed that it had been either lost or stolen.
A CLOSE CALL.
Goodrich and Davis we're petrifedlv madl
They stormed about among the members and
through the halls of the building; held secret
meetings; appointed detectives, and sYore
vengeance upon the person who had perpe-
trated the outrage. And so a week or more
passed, when q suspicious member was
spotted, and as he came out of the House of
Representatives embellished with his usual
innocent and child-like smile, Davis de-
manded the bill. 'Oh!'' he said, she didn't
have the bill; he positively knew nothing
about it! He would be ashamed TO do SO
dirty a trick" &C - d you, give
me that Bill" said Davis, drawing a
pistol and putting it close to his head. while
Judge Goodrich stood near by with his eyes
flashing tire,-"Give me that bill:'' again
cried Davis, ''or will blow your ID
brains out in two minutes" at the same time
drawing out his watch and cooking his pis-
toll! The Heather Chinese hesitated a
minute, picked his teeth, when Davis ex-
claimed-"one minute more and you are a
dead man!'' and out from the members coat
pocket came the stolen bill Davis and Good
nch were so rejoiced TO get back again their
little pet, that they forgot TO administer severe
punishment to the member, and he for
tunately escaped unhurt, yet If he had not
given up the bill just when he did, he would
have been dead man, for in those DAYS men
meant what they said, when they drew a
pistol on another. The bill passed both
houses, was signed by Gov. German, and
the obnoxious law was wiped from the Statute
book, after having been in force from ls49,
some four years.
This detestable law really broke Curian up,
for it took time to repeal it. and before that
was accomplished, his business suffered and
he finally sold out 10 Capt. Louis Robert.
HOW HE LOOKED.
Curran was a medium sized man: rather
slenderly built; with black hair, and if we
remember correctly, black whiskers; quick,
brusk, with business-movements, possessing
great energy, and man of nerve and ven
ture. Were he in business to-day, he would
make his mark as first class merchant He
lie lived in brick house
which stood on Robert street.
west of Third, overlooking the
river, and when this house was torn
down TO make way for a business block, the
bricks were used iuhhe erection of Capt
Louis Roberts new house, at the head Of
the same street, above Eighth. We have al
ready mentioned the fact s1ar his two daugh-
tiers married and both now live in this city,
but where Mr.. Curran at present is, or
whether be is still alive, we do not know.
DAVID CAKES.
One has very pleasant memory about
poor David Cakes, who fell in the battle at
Pittsburg landing during the late
war with the south. He WAS
manly fellow, and though tinged
with Indian blood, (of which he need not be
ashamed,) yet he was always the gentleman.
We remember him as large, muscular, well
formed man; straight, active, pleasant; and
to- day we can find nothing against him to
cast shadow over his excellent career. He
was trusted clerk of his father, and was
often sent on important missions among the
Indians, and he never betrayed trust or
faltered in his duty. Brave and self-possessed,
he, with Theodore Borup, covered
the Indians when they made an
onslaught on the Sioux in the Old
Minnesota outfit, and thereby saved much
bloodshcd. II was no doubt this same cour-