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

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,ortr and has been only waiting for an OPP
' unity to show the world what be could
I'VE done-had he had chancel But It
never came!
NATHANIEL z. TYSON.
Tyson was pretty generally known by all
the old settlers. In his way be was char
acter; tall, well proportioned; active;
loud-speaking; he impressed a stran-
ger with his importance, and yet he
was n man more Of hustle than merit. He
was born about 1924; came TO ST. Paul in
1852; kept a 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, aud furn-
ished one Of bis political friends barrel Of
whisky with which 10 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 aud treating his political
enemies TO copious draughts OF his own
whisky He made this discovery only
in time to save q few drinks, and
Nat was bursting mad, but that did not save
hinl--he lost the office he wanted, also bar
rel of whisky, and the good will OF his gen
erous friend. Later along he ran a grocery
store on Third street, and left the city some
time in either the year 1858 or 1858, and has
dropped out Of sight and almost out OF men,
ory.
JAMES NJ. crRRAN.
Mr. Curran WAS born in Ireland about
the year 1906; came 10 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 His two beautiful daughters clerked
for him, and ''Curran's Worlds Fair Store"
was as 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
J one prisoner died In jail before he could eat
isfy the demands OF his creditors. And this
occurred right in the city Of st. PAUL. Cur
| ran was just the man TO push business, aud
1
advice OF his lawyer stepped across into 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 all the friends Of those who we're,
| 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 bin for
that purpose which was presented to the
legislature of 1854. 'Bill Davls,' 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, 1t
could no where be found, and the clerk
claimed that it 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. ''Ohr' he said, she didn't
have the bill; he positively knew nothing
about IT. He would be ashamed 10 do so
dirty a trick" sc - d. YOU, give
me that BILL" said Davis, drawing
pistol and putting it close to his head, while
Judge Goodrich stood near by with his eyes
| flashing fre,--''Give me that bill;'' again
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 t'Heathen Chinese hesitated
minute, picked his teeth, when Davis ex
| claimed-"one minute more and you are
| dead man ~ and out from the members coat
pocket came the stolen bill Davis and Good
rich were so reioiced 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 bad not
given up the bill just when he did, he would
have been dead man, 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 obp oxious law was wiped from the Statute
book, after having been in force from IS49,
some four years.
This detesiable 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 to Capt. Louis Robert.
HOW HE LOOKED.
Curran was 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 map of nerve and ven
ture. Were he in business to-day, be would
make his mark as a first class merchant. He
He 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 business block, the
bricks were used IN the 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 daugb-
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
10 day we can find nothing against him TO
cast shadow over his excellent career. He
was a trusted clerk Of his father, and was
often sent on important missions among the
Indians, and he never betrayed a trust or
faltered in his duty. Brave and self-possessed,
be, with Theodore Borup, covered
the Indians when they made an
onslaught on the Sioux in the Old
Mime outfit, and thereby saved much
bloodshed. 1t was no doubt this same cour-
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