The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-25
D. r. LOCKE DEAD.
The Well Known Humorist, "Petro-
leum v. Nasty, Expired
at Toledo, o.


ID. II. Locke, widely known throughout tho
country as Petroleum ". Nasty, died We'd
nesday morning ut Toledo, o., OF consump-
ton. Locke was a newspaper man Of tho
old school. Born In 1889, he was apprcnticcd
in the printing trade when IL years old, and
soon graduated from the case 20 tire tripod
As jcurneyman typo-setter, he travelled
over the country, particularly the Southern
States and there stren- thened the anti
slavery convictions, which he had inherited
from his father. In partnership with James
q. Robinson, lac founded tie Advertiser nj
Plymouth, O.. In 1852.
Two years later, after selling ont the Ad-
vertiser, Mr.. Locke started the Bucyrus
journal. He edited several other papers
with more or less success, and az the break
ing out OF the war was In charge OF the Find
lay tO.) Jefersonian HIS own account Of
the writing OF the Petroleum V. Nasty let
tiers Is full OF interest. A paper was circu-
lated for signatures. asking the legislature 70
psv......;st ~. immigration and 10 deport
those already In Ohio. The petition was cir
culated by n man named Levi Flenner, a
worthless fellow, whose parents were county
charges In the almshotise. Locke said:
Zone night in a drug store. where people gather
In country towns, met Levi saw paper In his
pocket, and, - knew the fellow never read q
newspaper nj al, seized a petition. And 20
u was. i read II aloud with comments, and as
rad interPoa;ing my own remarks ] felt the
write the Nasty letters. That week published
the first one"
The first letter was dated from Wingerts
Corners, disloyal Ohio settlement, and was
As follows:
"wNoEnr's CORNERS sEcEpEs
"wNoERrs CORNERS, March the 2ist, 1901
:, South Carliny and several other nv the trooiy
dimecratic states hev secesht--gone orr, may say
QUITO a journey after their rites. Wngcrts Cor
ners ez trooly dimecratic any NV EN-. Hez fol-
logcd SCOT, A mcetin wuz held last mite, nv which
l wnz chairman, 20 take the matter nv our gricv.
hnces into consideration and IL wuz finally resolv
ed thet nothin' short Nv seceshn wood remedy our
woes, therefore the follerin' address which rit
wuz adopted aud ordered TO be pubisht
TO the world
In takin' step witch may. possibly, involve
the state OF witch We hev bin heretofore part into
blood and conyulshions a decent rcspek for the
good opinion NV the world requires 10 give
reasons for takin' that step.
"'WIngert's Corners hex too long submitted TO
the imperous dictates tYrankie government
Our whole bstry hez bin wnn nv sgreshn on the
part Nv the state and Nv meek and pashcnt endoor-
ence on oars.
III rcfoosed TO locate the state capital at the
Corners 70 the great detriment ov our patriotic
owners Of reel estate.
:. IL rcfoosed 60 gravel the streets NV the Cor
ners or even relay the plank. roads.
Corners notwhhstandin' we do more towards
hllin II than any town In the state.
IL rcfoosed To locate the state fair Mt the Cor
ners, blastn the hopes Nv our patriotic groseries.
at located the canal 100 miles from the Cor
ners;
the president this meetn hez lived here for
ycere awatin' 10 be urged 10 accept II.
1T hcz compelled US yecr after yeer to pay our
"It hez never applnted any citizen nv the place
TO any offs whore In 80 wuz possible, thus wilfuny
keepin capital away from ns.
"'lt rcioOsed 10 either pay our rhleroad sub
scripehun or slackwater our river.
Therefore, not bcn IN humor 10 longer en-.
independent NV the state and will maintain our
petition with arms Y need be.
"'There wuz lively tme next day. A compa.
nv nv mint men wuz aized and wua NV mint
men. The sechescn flag mnskrat rampant weasel
couchant on hold dcgrrheil waves from both
groserys Our merchant feels hopeful. Cut orr
from the state. direct trnde with the black swamp
fellers. Relecst from his Indebtedness 20 Cncin
natl He will Agnin lift his he'd Our represents
tive her agreed To repine-whcn his term expires.
We are In earnest Armed with Justice aud shot.
guns, we bid the tyrants defiance.
"'P S.--The feclln' IL intense. The children
rechcsen iiSg Il waved from behind. dlsdaInin'
conccalment The lion hearted boy wore round
about We are firm
"'N. Il. 2nd--We are hrm unycclfin'. calm, and
resoloot PETROLEUM V. Nasty
This was followed week after week by the
most remarkable series OF political satlrcs
ever known In the west. The letters were
copied from Maine 10 California, and their
effect upon the situation can hardly be es-
timatcd. Secretary Boutwell,, In n speech at
Cooper Union, declared that the rebellion
had been crushed "5y the army, the nnyy,and
the Nasty letters" Sumner, In giving the
letters place In the political history of the
war, said that 10 was impossible 10 measure
their value. They were read everywhere.
Locke was offered Office by Lincoln and
Grant. lie declined the mission 10 ST. Peters
burg and the mission 10 Berlin. His only
ambition was 10 build up great newspaper.
In 1865 he went 10 work on the Toledo
Blade, Of which he soon became tho sole pro-
prictor and after some years OF hard work he
found himself In position 20 enjoy his well
earned ease. lie travelled In Europe with
his eldest son, Robinson Locke, and published
the result Of his trip under the title Of
ssNasby I'm Exile" Other books published
10y Locke were; "Ekkoes from Kentucky"
"Swinglng Round tho Circle" "Papcr
City, and "Hannah Jane" While abroad
Locke narrowly escaped arrest In Ireland for
his sympathetic speeches 90 the peasantry
A peculiar and almost romantic episode In
I,ocke's life was the friendship that existed
between G.. A. Il. Shepard, OF Lee & Shop
ard, the Boston book publishers, and himself.
For twenty years the two men have ex-
changed letters every day, and one OF the last
efforts of I.ockc's life was 10 dictate letter
20 Mr. Shepard.
Mr.. Lockc's health began TO fail some
years ago. and he has travelled 10 the south
several times hoping for rcprioyc. Early
last winter n became evident that death was
but a question OF time. He faced the incv-
liable calmly lie leaves wife and three