Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-04-02
A warm RECEPTION
Given Foster County Farmers
Visiting Dunkards in
Devils Lake.

Delegation OF DunkarClS Return
to View the James
River Valley.
The party of farmers and citizens
from Foster county that went to Devils
Lake to meet the 300 Dunkards des-
tined for the northern part Of the state,
had a rather exciting and pleasant trip.
The people Of Devils Lake jollied them
and attempted to make themselves
agreeable in the most approved Indian
territory style. They offered to show
their appreciation of the friendly visit Of
the farmers from the James River valley
by exhibiting to them the sights OF the
city conveying the visitors astride OF
those long timbers for which Abraham
Lincoln was noted carver; they suggest
ed mementoes of the occaslonln the plum.
age OF birds, the same to be attached to
the person of tho visitors with certain
dark colored resinous substance, COM
monty known as tar; they pressed the
party to stay longer and offered for their
personal use the entire city bastlle. Yes,
the members Of the party speak in high
terms Of the hospitality and generous,
open hearted courteous treatment &C.
corded them at the Satanic city.
In the party that arrived in Devils
Lake Saturday from Foster county, to
meet the incoming Dunkards and ask
that they send a representation to Fos-
ter and Wells counties to see for them
selves that the James River valley was
not the drouth ridden, barren and in
hospitable land that Immigration Agent
Max Bass of the Great Northern had
pictured to them, were number of
farmers and leading citizens from Gar
rlngton and New Rockford, Frank
Swickard, travelling immigration agent
of the 500; General Agent Hurd Of the
500, and @. s. Buck of this city. Devils
Lake was reached early Saturday morn
ing. The prominent men among the
Dunkards were visited and all that was
asked was, that they send a. delegation
to see the much despisedF Fland. This
the Dunkards expressed a willingness to
do, and did later and were quite lnquisi-
tive regarding the James river valley
which had been decried to them by
Bass.
The party had been at work but a
short time among the Dunkards when
at a. m. they were met by a delega.
ton of citizens. At the head was Major
Kelley, Deputy U. s. Marshal Hurst and
Devils Lakes chief of police. Mayor
Kelly was not smiling when he inquired
the business of the Foster people in the
Srtanio city-the party wers. without
''vlsible means Of support" and were
evidently under deep suspicion. The
mayor was politely informed that the
party deemed his question irrelevant.
The mayor excepted and gave the party
two hours to leave the city. Walking
was bad and the party expressed a
desire and an intention to stay. The
suggestions for their maintenance in
that event were freely INDUCED in by
the attendant crowd. Some suggested
their arrest-what for was not stated
others that they be ridden on a rail,
tsrred and feathered, and other marks OF
affection bestowed upon them.
Max Bass was present and, hearing
that some OF the Foster county conting-
ent had gone from Churchs Ferry to
Cando with the first train load of Dunk
ards, had special made up and with a
small party rushed for the seat of war.
The telegraph wires s,zzled with dis
patches from the front. The enemy had
entered the city and bluff similar to
the variety used IN Devils Lake would
not ''shoo" them off-re-enforcements
were asked for at once. Hence the
hasty trip OF Bass
The Foster county party stayed in
Devils Lake til Monday morning. The
action Of the citizens gave the emigrants
q pointer which they were not slow to
act upon. The emigrants called upon
and piled their visitors with questions
concerning the Valley Of the James and
took sufficient interest to send party
Of ten or twelve Dunksrds to "spy out
the land" Mayor Kelley was seen later
and expressed much regret for the INCL
dent Of the early morning and offered an
apology. In fact, when the citizens DIS
covered the purpose OF the party was
not altogether warllke and the men,
bers were not such bad fellows after all,
they were not sverse to speaking in very
strong terms Of Bass and bis methods.
1t will be an agreeable surprise to per-
aone subject to attacks OF bilious collie to