St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-11
CROOKSTON.

Special correspondence of the Globe.
| July S.-The community was startled this
morning by the announcement of the death
| last night from Inflammation of the bowels
of Paul G. Sletten, receiver of the Crookston
land office. The deceased, native of Nor
way, was appointed to the Office which he
held np to the time of his death, by President
Grant, through the influence of the notorious
Bill King, who, although elected, failed to
appear on his seat in congress- urgent bust
ness requiring his presence in Canada dur
ing the Pacific Mail Investigations. King,
it will be remembered, in order to make
place for his protege, whose claim to favor
consisted in his ability to deliver the Scan
dinavian vote, procured the removal of Judge
r. Reynolds, whose only offense was his re-
fusal to support the transactions of King.
Paul Sletten was pre-eminently the leader
of the scandinavian element of our popula-
ton, welding an influence among his coun-
trymen that compelled him to be recognized
as a powerful factor in the politics. of this
district. Positive and incorporating in
the opinions of his faction, practical, thor
ough and aggressive in his methods. he de-
voted all the energies of his vigorous and
persistent nature to the attainment of his
object. The deceased was about 45 years of
age. and leaves a wife and three children in
comfortable circumstances. A host of mourn
ing countrymen feel that they have lost a
leader whose place cannot be filled, and
Knute Nelson will hardly be able to obtain
the services OF another so valuable bench
man. He was not without faults and enem-
les, but req,aescst Ia pace.
Intense excitement prevails at Red Lake
Falls over recent developments in the OPP
erations of Tom. Coffin, who some months
ago secured an interest in Kretzschmar's ad-
dition to that booming bonanza. Yesterday,
an attorney claiming to represent eastern
capitalists appeared in the village to take
possession of the property which his princi-
pals had purchased from Coffin, and stopped
work upon the new railroad to st. Hilaire.
AS Kretzschmar had no intimation of the al
legged sale, and has never realized any cas- h
from the transfer of his interest to the com
pany, of which Coffin is the head he is COM
pletely "knocked out" believing that he is
the victim of misplaced confidence, has lost
about $50, 900, and that his proud hopes for
the future are dashed to the ground.
The representative of the purchasers met
a very warm reception at the hands of the
good people of Red Lake Falls, and
the laborers upon their little rail road will not
consent to his leaving their midst until their
wages are paid. Threats of violence, riot
and bloodshed are rife, and Sheriff Zwickey
has gone to the scene of action. 1t will be
very cold day when the willy Tom. Coffin
again honors the citizens of Red Lake Falls
with his in sinuatiup presence
The burglars are 'burgling' in Crook
ston, but Notwithstanding several arrests,
the ''gang'' does not appear to materaize.
Toby Waller is the most recent introduction
to the notice of justice Lilley, and an at
tempt on the residence Of G. A. Davis is the
cause thereof.
Walkers lumber mill will resume opera
tons to-day, after a delay of couple of
weeks on account of broken machinery.
The Farmers association has called a
meeting at Crookston On the 22d inst, at
which is to be prepared a vigorous protest
against monopolies in general and the ex-
| tortionate Manitoba r. r. Co., and elevators
| in particular.
| The wheat continues to grow in a "No. 1
hard'' style and if the average in this vicin-
| ity don't reach thirty-five bushels TO the acre
| we will have to be satisfied with less.
Everybody is sanguine over the prospect
and without dissenting voice all raise up
their voices in praise of Crookston and the
Red river valley