The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-27

Their houses mere sEacks, the ground
once a part of the bed Of the mighty
Mississippi, twenty-five or more squat
tiers located on what is known as the
West Side flats are in danger of losing
their little homes.
Providence provided them with the
ground, while the f1otsam and jetsam
of great river furnished the material
for the little huts their children call
home, but graspfng outsiders covet
them. Where cajolery fails the aid of
the law is envoked to GUST the inhabit-
ants.
For the past week considerable ex-
element has existed among the inhab-
itants of Little Italy, struggling, tum-
down collection of hutS, SWarthy-
faced adults and sunny haired children
located on the lowlandS on the West
Side just east of Congress street and
opposite the union depot yards. 1t
has suddenly dawned on the inhabit-
ants of this colony that they are about
to lose their homes. Some have been
cajoled into signing leases revoking
what little right the law gave them,
while others find themselves defend
ants in suits brought by various indi-
viduals and corporations.
Deal Worked With Beer.
"A
the squatters, whose holdings about
the river and in which they have lived
for nearly twenty years, awoke one
morning to find that the home which
sheltered them was no longer theirs.
At the instance of a snooth-tongued
stranger, it is claimed, they were in
duced to sign an innocent looking pa
per, which when filed as the law re-
quireS proved to be a lease. In signing
it they had renowned all rights accru-
ing from years Of undisturbed possess
sion and were at the mercy Of the les
see. Two kegs of beer, so the story
goes, did the work and left them home
less.
A few Of the more intelligent refused
to sign and carried their grievances to
the officials representing their ward,
who Immediately warned them to be
careful, but in the case of some Of
them the warning came too late and
nothing could be done.
Among those who are taking legitf-
mate means to GUST the squatters is
the West Side Improvement and Real
Estate syndicate. This company has
brought number of suits to quiet title,
but according to Attorney James r.
Hickey, who is aiding the squatters,
the claimants to the title have little
show to win their case.
City's Title Is Valid.
According to his investigation some
Of the squatters, among them one
known as Italian Mike, have been oc-
cupying the grounds for over eighteen
years and have never been disturbed
until now. Three times the city con-
demned their holdings for leyee pur-
poses, but each time the proceedings
were declared invalid and the holders
left unmolested.
The ground on which these squatters
have their homes are accretlOnS left
by the receding river and are really a
part Of what is known as the Mintzer
estate. For years it was marsh, has
never paid the city any taxes and had
no claimants except those who wan
dered to its shores and built temporary
shacks for shelter from the elements.
Gradually these shacks grew in num-
Der, children were born and the colony
came to be recognized community.
Now the ground has become valuable,
a railroad has -empted much of it
and those that once laid claim to the
title want it.
Will Fight for Rights.
The fact that the squatters are to be
evicted has reused the ire of some Of
the inhabitants of the colony and trou-
BILE is promised for the party that at
tempts to turn them out into the
streets. The colony dates back nearly
twenty years and in many instances the
huts and recognized rights to the
ground have been handed down from
parents to children or traded for in
the usual manner.
Some of the squatters, it is said, I'M
der the guise of being protected in
their right, have been induced to sign
leases for which they pay the owners
a trifling amount each month. There is
a possibility that some of these leases
have been given for ground which the
city acquired by purchase in it's levee
condemnation and those who have in
terested themselves in the matter are
making an investigation.