New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
YANKEE HoUrSs GREAT soAEME.
Low-DOWN TREATMENT OF A BUSINESS
MAN.
HOW TIE PEOPLE OF BISMARCK VAILED TO IN
C0rRAGE A HOME ENTERrRIfY.


type. The sharp exclamation of the sxshooter with
| tho abnornay large exclamation point after II
| heard on all sides. The selfcockiDg revolver was
tho most Influential citizen in the community and IT'S
harsh metallic suggestions heard on all ques
tons 1t was the leading public speaker on the Mis-
souri, slope. Few matters before the people on
which It did not express an opinion In Its quick do
cldcd way. 1t always present at all public
meetings and seldom failed TO get the eye OF the chair
man-irequcnuy II cot all Of him, and the secretary
of the meeting made this minute: Colonel Crggs
and Judge Eniicott each rose to question OF privi-
lego. The Chair recognized Colonel Grggs. The
Chair then shot through tho right lung By Judge
Endicott. Tho Judge was elected chairman to
coed the deceased after which followed free and Inn
partial discussion Of what steps could be taken to
elevate the moral and Intellectual Of the commu-
niiy.' The day when the Mayor and principal OF tho
city schools each got Chnaman by the collar and
held him up in front Of him and blazcd away at tho
other till his weapon was empty viii long be rcmcm-
bered in Bismarck.
Naturally largo proportion Of the gentlemen VINO
passed away in this enterprisins place did so Win
their boots sl upon their persons. If they got tn'ir
spurs of they cid well Not that any OF thcm car'd
whether these universal appeniages were of or not.
There's a new man struck our ranch' said shorty
Borland one day wien no In from his range I'D INC
Bad Lands on the Little Missouri, but he's Pill
grim and tenderfoot and kn0wcd It the hrst sight
" How did you know It, 'sbory'l' asked. Howo
/ know it?-w'y. anybody would "a h0wcd IT, hiin
and me met at Ford Buford first, an went to hotel
~ stop an sling some style we went up ~
our room an hung up my hat on nan an started
TO roll in, when what did see this feler dom bus
taldn' Off his spurs fore no got into bed! fact'-
removn' his spurs to go to bed / par'llzed fer
a minute. 1t wouldn't IA sprscd me II be hed
took of his boots too though he want quito SO much
of dude as that am glad "a say
But am wandering long ways from Yankee
Houts Mr. Houts had noticed, of course, with THO
rest of lis that death very prevalent In the CITY,
Funerals were consequently numerous, snd the lt'io
cemetery was rapidly growing lie had also observed
that the Chinaman who dug the graves at SO apiece
was making money rapidly And he had not failed
to tahe note Of the fact that this same Chinaman
had cot 5 each for several graves tho winter before
on account OF the ground being frozen so hard mat
It took a great deal Of work and time TO dig even
shallow grave. This set Mr. Houts's naturally active
mind at work. and he evolved the dazzling plan OF
digging few graves, assorted sizes, during the iai
and holding them for the winter trade
Accordingly this cnterprisng citizen borrowed tho
Chnamans shovel while that individual was deep In
A game Of fan-tan, and repaired to Capitol Hill Cen-
eery selected favorable location and dug SIX graves
side by side ConccalIng the shovel in some buffalo
grass he returned TO the city and resumed his laDor-
Gus occupation of lingering near bar waiting for
some stranger to ask him to drink, on which occa-
slors he invariably took brand Of whiskey known
locally as lightning suicide
The beautiful autumn, with its food OF golden suns
light and wealth OF myriadtDtcd leaves wore away
into the winter with its active blizzard and detected
thermometer In the meantime, the death rate had
been normal ard the Chinaman had purchased new
spade and como on with his occupation. Mr. Houts
sconed to dispose of his graves at any fall prices
He calculated by holding them Ill the winter no
could dispose Of them at $25 apiece and thus mako
money and at the same time underbid chinese cheap
labor.
But with the winter came a great change in BIS
marck, srd one which very much disguised Mr. tan
kee Houts. The city became peaceful NUMBER OK
tho prominent citizens, and therefore moro dan
gerous ones down the river on the last steam-
boat in tho fall. rest became dIstressngy law
abiding and commonplace. One man traded his gun
for dictionary Nobody killed. And there was
Yankee with six graves his hands
The reader at first sight may not fully appreciate
what it IS to own select stock of graves with no
demand for graves. To have six graves and no cal
for such things. To be heavily stocked up with
graves and the bottom gone out of the market To
have your whole working capital in graves and the
price going down you can hear 1t whz.
As the winter passed. Yankee began TO get ANXIOUS
He asked the boys II they were going TO see him lose
money. If he heard loud talk anywhere he got around
in the background and motoned to those taking part
to 60 ahead and opened his mouth and worked it
silently into tho sentence, " Give it to himT
1t was sad sight to see Yankee going around town
with his finger the state of the grave trade, as t
were While there plenty of customers for
the saloon and grocery proprietor # began to
look as If he wouldn't make asae all winter Ito
camo down on the price steadily, and frequently
pointed out to the boys that they would never again
get a chance to buy a frst-cless grave at such
ridiculousy low figure. lie cut down after while
below tho Chinamans summer prices, and offered
good graves at $40 apiece
1t was a depressing sight TO see him stand at tho
railroad depot when the train from the East arrived
asking the passengers they got Off If they were
looking for anything 10 his llne He offered to tais
them right up on the hill and show them his stock
stll he failed dispose Of any, and spring came
on he cut the price TO 80. He explained to the peo
pie that this cheap that they could well afford
10 buy one or two and keep them til they did need
them. He said there speculation in graves at
that price There bound to be a demand for
them some time He said he must realize somo
ready money himself or he would never offer them
at that figure.
When spring came he completely discouraged.
He said it the first time he had ever gone into
any business OF his own and he didn't believe any,
body could blame him for feeling little sick lilo
had not only got work IN those graves but all his
money was tied up in them-by which We understood
he referred 10 the ChiIamans shovel. lie claimed
the people OF the place hadn't given him a fair show.
lie accused them Of not patronizing home industries.
lie said they acted II they wanted TO drive business
out of the place After he had offered HIS entire
stock for 81 got takers he threatened to MI
up HIS graves and leave tho town TO its fate. He
said the next thing Bismarck knew it would lie fat
on its back and not available grave to its name.
lie supposed II pedder should como along sell
ing graves that people would snap them up right and
left but when an honest whom they all knew
bought a shovel and opened grave supply depot,
they began TO talk about the healthfulness OF tho
climate and cremation. lie had put graves within
the reach Of the humbcst citizen, and the county
Judge had swapped his revolver for a bear dog. Ho
loIv tIoe NJ bntfn
and tried to found a select industry I'm their midst,
and the only man who had been shot al during tho
whole winter had lodged the bullet The only man
who sympathized with him the coroner, and no
didn't right out and back him up as he should
soon Mr. Houts became gloomy and neglected his