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

WHISKY Win whlcn 10 aulance 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 few drinks. and
Nat was bursting mad, but that did not save
him--he lost the office he wanted, also bar
rel of whisky, and the good will Of his gen
erous friend. Later along he ran grocery
store on Third street, aud left the city some
time in either the year 1858 or 1859, ana 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 large dry goods store on
the corner OF Third and Robert streets, and
for that early day carried on an extensive
trade. HisTwo beautiful daughters cIerked
for him, and 'Currans Worlds Fair Storeu
was Ms well known in St. Paul in 1851 as
Stewards used to be in New York In later
years.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
About this time there was law upon the
Territorial Statute book authorizing impris-
onment for debt, and in the little old.
dark, weather-beaten, 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 their 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
Of course he became involved, aud by the
advice Of his lawyer stepped across ito Wis
consin to save himself from criminal arrest.
The necessity for this act brought the in
dign alton 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 bill! for
that purpose which was presented to the
legislature of 1854. "Bill Davis,n of this
city, a member of the house, had the bill in
charge. and we think after it 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 1t had been either lost or stolen.
CLOSE CALL.
Goodrich and Davis were petrifedly mad
They stormed about among the members and
through the halls Of the building; held secret
meetings; appointed detectives, and swore
vengeance upon the person who had perpe-
trated the outrage. And so a week or more
passed, when a 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!' be 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. Won. give
me that Bill" said Davis, drawing
pistol and putting 1t close to his head, while
Judge Goodrich stood near by with bis ewes
flashing ire,-"Give me that bill;" agsir
cried Davis, cor will blow your ID
brains out in two minutes" at the same time
drawing out his watch aud cooking his pis-
toll The Heather Chinese hesitaled
minute, picked his teeth, when Davis ex.
minute more and you are a
dead man ~ and out from the members coat
pocket came the stolen bill Davis and Good
rlch were so rejoiced TO get back again their
little pet, that they forgot to administer severe
punishment to the member, and he for
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 1S49,
some four years.
This detestabe law really broke Curian up.
for it took time to repeal it, and before that
was accomplished, his business suffered and
he finally sold mt ~ Cant orfs P,bart
HOW HE LOOKED.
Curran was a medium sized man: rather
slenderly built; with black hair, aud 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 iuAhe erection of Capt.
Louis Roberts new house, at the head OF
the same street, above Eighth. We have al
ready mentioned the fact that 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
a manly fellow, and though tinged
with Indian blood, (of which he need not be
yet be was always the gentleman.
We remember him as a large, muscular, we'll
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 seif-possessed,
be, with Theodore Borup, covered
the Indians when they made an
onslaught on the Sioux in the Old
Mimi outfit, and thereby saved much
bloodshed 1t was no doubt this same cour-
ageous element of bis character which. caused
him to rush intet6e thickest of the fight at
Pittsburgh Landing, where he met his death.
Poor, gallant Dave Cakes; gone down in
life young, yet leaving memory pleasant
10 his widow and pleasant to his friends.
He was born at La Pointe, Wis, in 1928:
came to st. Paul in 1859, married Miss
Curran, who survives him; continued
mostly in the employ OF his father.
until he enlisved in the army, and was killed
IN 1862, aged about thfrty-ive years.
. his life was gentle and the elements
so mixed in him that nature might stand IN
And say 70 all the word, This is q man"
Cover him over with beautiful flowers;
Deck him with garlands, this brother OF ours:
Lying so silent by night, and by day,
Sleeping the years OF his manhood away:
Years he had marked for the joys of the brave:
ears he must waste in the sloth OF the grave.
All the bright laureis he sought TO make bloom.
en- 70 the earth when be went 10 the fonh