St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-06
J0KERS IN The JUG.
Tale Of a Travelling Man Con-
corning the Indian
Scare.
How Two Deaths We're Caused
by q Practical
Joke.
Judge Young Is Kindly
Offered Some Good Sit
uatiOnS.
Decline Of the Flour Output
lin the District
Court.

George w. MargOn, salesman for an
Eastern wholesale firm, who has just re-
turned from business trip through
North Dakota, tells story about the
Indian scare which is somewhat more
serious than those retailed by other re-
turned travellers. 1t also proves that
the state of politicions is actually hun
geriDg, yearning. with a deep, so llful,
S. yearn. for a visit from the fool
killer. 1t illustrates the ability of the
practical joking instinct to outlaSt even
the severity of numberless billiards..
About two weeks ago MIR. Morgan was
In Mandan. The Indian excitement was
still at its height. No one could think
of anything but painted warriors, ter
Tlfying war whoops.. dangling scalpss;
Everybody talked of Indians, nearly all
dreamed of Indians. One "Wednesday
night there was a tall i'll Mandan. TO
1t came all the SWANS and their best
girls from miles around. Among them
was young fellow named Jenkins.
be brought the prettiest girl of
the outfit, and three other less
fortunate rivals bethought themselves
that it would be deuced clever thing.
don't you know, to play a joke on him
Tor m0nOpoliZlng so much loyelineSs.
While jenkins was looking after the
care of his horse these world-amuSerS
went to him. ami earnestly told him that
the whole town was fearing an attack
from the redskins. Friendly Indians
had minated as much. Moreover.
the town had all day been
full of strange and ill-tempered
Savages. They went so far as to point
out some of the bloodthirsty wretches
who were loltering about waiting for
the beginning of the massacre. The
Indians, they said, purpoSed burning
burning the homes of all the surround
ing settlers before sweeping down upon
Mandan. In the then existing state of
feeling over the expected outbreak,
what was more natural than that Jen
kins should believe all this? He did be-
lieve it and acted accordingly.
He knew that the young lady who had
in town than anywhere else. HIS
father, mother and sister, left at home
eight miles in the country, must be
looked after. He mounted his horse
barebacked and started for home. Some
bogus Indians had been stationed lust
outside the town on his road and as he
passed they yelled and fired blank
cartridges at him. Then he rode the
faster. His horse was pushed to its ut
most speed. On he flew across the
prairie, alarming the other settlers as
he rode.
Cut and run for Mandanl The In
dianS are coming" were the words
which disturbed the still night air aud
smote the tympani OF the already over
wrought settlers. Jenkins was another
Paul Revere. At every bound of his
horse his cry of alarm rang out across
the glOom-enshrouded plains. The set
tiers needed his warning and fed, stop
ping for nothing. Lives alone were
thought of. The Indians are comingu'
was the match to the fuse of their con-
slant fears.
Jenkins soon arrived at home, aroused
his family, hustled them into a wagon
and set out for Mandan. The night was
bitterly cold. The aifrighted settlers, in
their terror, forgot half their clothes.
Jenkins little sister was just recovering
from a severe illness, pneumonia. The
shock occasioned by the alarm, added to
the cold and hardship of long ride,
died the next day. The wife of neigh
Dor, the mother of babe Il few DAYS
old, succumbed likewise. Others were
carried nigh to deaths portal. 1t was
all the outcome of a "joke," but the re-
suits were serious.
However, the geniuSeS who conceived
this gigantic piece of humor will not es-
cape. They have been arrested, and if
Dakota law can be made to fit the case,
they will have plenty of time to repent
of their desire to become humorists.
They narrowly escaped lynching at the
hands of their victims. jenkins swears
that if the law does not reach them. he
will personally undertake to administer
to them cond;gn punishment. Who can
blame him?