The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1900-09-13
Welcome Feed
Given to the returned Gold.hunt..
ers at the Merchants Hotel last
Saturday Night. Bemidji Cheer
VS.. Cape Nome Chill.

Three Of the party Of six which
left Bemidji last June for the gold
fields Of Cape Nome returned last
week. AL and Earl Carson and
Frank Snyder are home again and
report the others of the party in
Washington state locking up tim-
Der claims. The boys had excel
dent health, except Mr.. Snyder
who had an attack Of fever while
on the boat enrouts home, which
landed him in the hospital att
Seattle, and still leaves him in a
weak and lean condition. Mrs.E.
Carson and Mrs. Frank Snyder
who went to the coast to meet
their husbands, also returned.
A banquet was given Saturday
night at the Merchants Hotel in
honor Of our adventures. About
thirty Of their friends gathered
to welcome the boys and to de-
strUy the big and dainty feast
which Landlord Hazen had care
fully provided. After the excel
lent supper, a few short speeches
were made, L. H. Bailey, the in
4..5 EEA. Is ,9FF -
imitable toastmaster, being in
command. Ye reporter having
taken copious notes on a sheet of
cigar smoke is able to give the
remarks in full:
Toastmaste Bailey The wave Of
excitement which encircled our land
over the discovery of immense grana-
ries Of gold in Cape Nome, caught in
its ripling eddies several citizens Of
Bemidji. They tossed aside their
common vocations, seized the pick
and pan and followed the direction
to which the goddess of fortune SEEM
ed to frantically beckon. In peace, in
war, in politics or adventure Bemidji
has the man of the hourthe active
man, ever ready to pierce the veil of
obscurity and to leap into the sun
light Of action. And there of course
were men willing to separate them
selves for a season from the charms
and comforts of their Bemidji homes
to vie with the world in wrenching
from the grudging hand of fortune its
glittering sands of well-guarded gold.
In honor of these men a banquet was
given by many of their admirers just
before their departure. We told them
then that did their journey lead to
hunger or prosperity: should they
come back dimpled heirs of fortune or
wasted wrecks of busted hope, they
could bank on our sympathy and our
fraternal spirit: our hearts would
leap with Joy to welcome them, came
they back in broadcloth on in rags.
Three OF the wanderers have returned,
two Of them are with us tonight. /
understand that more will follow on
the next hog train. And a few of US
have gathered to join with you in
singing Home, Sweet Home. While
you may not have brought as much
gold as you Intended, or done as well
as we have hoped we now offer you
more than gold THAT which gold can
not buy--tbe hearty friendship OF your
fellow citizens. To know that there
are those whose hearts welcome you,
that warm hands are outstretched to
greet you, is after all a source OF
more satisfaction than bag OF mug
gets. | will eallupon the first prison
er at the bar to make his defense, il
anyMr. Snyder.
Mr.. Snyder:-I am guilty, but will
plead sickness as extenuating circum-
stancesf had the gold fever when
left, kind of typhoid fever while
away, and homesick fever has