Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-02-25
PELTED BY THE STORM.
Homesteaders Hold Their Own in the
Teeth of a BIizzard-strange Scenes at
Ashland-Terrible Suffering Under
gone by the Men in Front of the Land
0ffice-Admirab1e Chiva1ry Shown by
Rough Settlers.

ASHLAND. Wis, Feb. 20.-In the face
of binding snow storm, with no
shelter except the clothing they
wore, the filers held their posi-
ton in line in front Of the
United States Land office last
night. Their determination borders on
frenzy, and it will be strange if large
numbers of them do not drop IN their
tracks before Monday morning. The
man who goes to sleep now is
in danger of losing his place,
and there are large numbers of men
standing around to slip in the line
where others fall from sheer exhaus-
ton Miss Hattie Knickelbine, who
occupies seventh place, was al
lowed to go to a hotel last
night. She Is very plucky, and
the men are courteous to her. They
we're standing in foot of snow
this morning, but dry goods boxes
with straw and benches are
being distributed along the line. which
affords some relief. A long tent made
of blankets, sheets and overcoats covers
Albert Vincent, at the head,
has received several offers for
his position, refusing one
of So, 900 this morning. Immense
crowds are attracted by the sight Two
men from Duluth crowded into the line
ahead Of their proper place last night,
and there are murmurlngs along the
line that they will be mobbed
after Monday unless they take
their proper place. The rush is even
greater than that at Waussu,, as
the land is much more valuable,
and the line was formed two
days earlier. Many of those in line
went through similar experience at
Wausau, and they say that the rush is
much greater. The awful exposure
on some of them. Haggard and
benumbed with cold, they can
hardly lift their hands. Hot coffee
and sandwiches are dealt ont to them
bv Temporary lunch counters, which
have been erected close at hand.
Among those in line are large num-
Der of settlers who have come to file on
the land upon which they have squat
ted, and which they wish to make
secure by filing. My home
depends upon whether I can
stick it OUT, said one poor fellow, land
/ intend to stand here as long as God
Almighty Will permit. lHey VIII nave
to carry me away. I'll never go as long
as | am able to move myself
At noon it was showing again,
which adds to their discontinue. No.
Z, the lady, procured some German
socks this morning, and also fur over
coat with which to keep warm. She
Jokes and laughs with the men, pralslng
them for their manliness in looking after
her rights and letting her go to t he ho--
tel for meals and to sleep. Four old
men with gray hair took their positions
at the end of the line this
morning. They are old land lockers,
and claim that they will file on land
which will give them each about 3,0OO,-
coo feet of pine.
The first twenty-five men i'll line are
as follows:
Albert Vincent. Chippewa Falls; Abb.
DaIy. Chippewa Falls; Thomas Sullivan,
Bessemer: Phil. Jacobson, Superior; +.
Larkin, Wausau; G. II. Fuller, Wan
paca; Hattie knlckelbine, Ironwood;
Thomas Rowan, Chippewa Falls;
". A. Wells, Iron River; Dick
Doober: Chippewa Falls; Charles
Scheibe. Dorchester; James Hartlon, Du-
Iuth: Robert Scheibe, Dorchester; Joe Ham
bley, Chippewa Falls; Conrad Hlnze, Du-
luth: Jerome Cox, Duluth; Sam. Giles,
Duluth; Alex. More, Duluth; L. Feeney,
Ashland: Joe Beaul1eux, Duluth; AlphonSe
Couture, Duluth, Halver Steendahl, Du-
luth.
AS there are about As, 900 acres in the
forfeited lands, and each manis entitled
to 100 acres, 300 only will be able to en-
ter land.