Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-15
A STORY OF FATE.
The Reason Why Frank Mead Is
Not With the American Consul
at Melbourne.
For a Year and a Month He Waited
Anxiously For the "Letter
That Never Came"
Elder Mofet's Visit in Washington
After the Bouncing Of Prof.
Smith for Heresy.

WASHINGTON, June 4.-LSpecial.] 4
learned Of the presence OF Editor Moffet
in Washington on Friday last. It seems
he came in Thursday night and left the
following day. He was on his way home
from Saratoga, where he attended the
l06th general assembly Of the Presby-
terrain Church North, to which 1 believe
he was q delegate. The chief business
of the convention was the trial and
bouncing" of Prof. Henry Preserved
Smith for heresy. Think of a man being
tried by the likes of Elder MoHet for
heresy!
Frank J. Mead, at present represent
ing the st. Paul Globe in Washington,
is so we'll known 1nithe northwest that the
following incident, which illustrates the
cruelty of fate in some instances, will be
read with interest.
1t will be remembered that Frank
was at all times a steadfast friend Of
Capt. D. w. Maratta, and he had sup.
posed that there existed a sort of re-
ciprocal feeling on the part of the
captain. For some time previous to the
appointment of Capt. Maratta as consul
to Melbourne, Australia, Mr.. Mead had
been "down IN luok;" the newspaper
business was dull and even the expert
ence and ability of one who had spent a
lifetime in active journalism was un-
sought and unstable. It was at this
time and under these circumstances that
the voluntary offer on the part of Capt.
Maratta to provide a place for his friend
in case of success in obtaining the
political recognition he sought-was
most acceptable and pleasing to Mead.
The day of appointment came. Mead,
at that time, was doing jury duty in
Minneapolis at 50 a day ana pleased to
get it. He could ill afford an unneces-
sary expenditure and the price of a CON
gratulatory telegram to Capt. Maratta
he did not consider in that category.
This was just a year ago. From that
time until yesterday Frank had not
heard from Capt. Maratta. He had
thought it strange; he had even moral
lied IN the ingratitude of man, and had
even thought of that baser appellation
of SLIPPERY Dan" applied to the captain
away back in early Missouri river steam
boat days, and which Mead had always
believed was wrongfully and ungraci-
ously attached.
Two months g Mrs. Mead and her
daughter went to California, and is now
there visiting relatives. Yesterday Nh.
Mead received a letter from her, enclos-
ing a sealed but unstamped letter adj
dressed Frank Mead, Esq Minneapolis;
kindness of w. H. Brown" This letter
had been forwarded to Mrs. Mead by the
postmaster of Minneapolis, who supposed
Mr.. Mead's mail, as we'll as her own, was
to be forwarded to the California ad-
dress. This unopened letter was &C.
companied by one from Brown, under
date Of May 20, l894-mark the date-in
which that gentleman says: II enclose
herewith a letter handed me in Washing
ton some time ago by Capt. Maratta,
who seemed quite anxious that I should
hand it to you or my arrival in Mime
apolis. I am very sorry about this, but
I placed it in my pocket and really never
again thought Of it till to-day when /
found it in looking over some papers.
Yours, etc, W. 81. Brown"
Imagine the surprise of Mead on open
ing the letter from Maratta-dated June
TO-, 1881 year ago. In this letter the
captain told Frank that he wanted him
to go with him-to meet him at the
Holmes hotel, Minneapolis, on the Goth,
ready to start. He advised him of the
salary, $500, to which he said he would
add 500 from his own funds, making
$1,000 all told. He spoke Of the need Of
haste in order to catch the steamer al
San Francisco, and thanked Mr.. Mead
for his thoughtfulness and steadfast
friendship.
'Now, just think Of that-the irony Of
fate"-said Mr.. Mead, in speaking of the
episode. "a year lost. A year of unjus,
accusations against a friend. Probably
a year Of wondering on Maratta's part
why I failed to meet him and give som
reason for not accepting his kind offer
DIN Brown. I don't even know him
But for his criminal thoughtlessness
how many moments, hours, days ano
weeks Of anxiety and painful experience
might have been spared. l will write
the captain tomorrow"
After leaving Frank Mead's Office, ]
mel a mutual friend, who, uncharitable
as it may seem, laughed and said: "Jus,
like Dan. Probably Brown was not te
be in any particular haste, but it doet
seem as if a year was q little above the
limit. Why should he trust to the mem
DRY Of q messenger? When Maratta ar
rived in Minneapolis, wasn't it natura
that he should have inquired for his ole
friend Mead? Was 1T not probable tina