davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04
STORY OF The ORIGIN AND THE GROWTH OF FORT SNEII ING

When Lieut.. Col Leavenworth, with
800 men of the Fifth regiment, started
from Detroit, in the summer of 1919,
under orders to establish q fort near
the junction of the Mississippi and St.
Peters rivers (the latter now called
the Minnesota), he little understood
the Importance of his errand or to
what size the blockhouse which he
then started to build was destined to
grow in the course of the century.
Yet even in that far-off time, the i'm
portance of a military stronghold in
this part of the world was clearly rec
ogniZed, and as early at 1917 Maj. Long
had recommended the establishment of
a post at the mouth of the st. Peters
river.
Even earlier than that, in 1905, Lieut..
]. M. Pike, who had been sent into the
Northwest by Gen. Wilkinson, the
general commanding the army of evil
memory, to drive out certain British
troops reported to be in this part of the
country, secured the land necessary for
the post and by treaty with the Sioux
Indians, concluded on an island near
the present fort, gained for the gov
eminent a tract of land from the juno
ton of the Mississippi and ST. Peters
rivers as far as to include the falls of
St Anthony and extending for nine
miles on each side of the Mississippi,
thus bringing under national control
not only all of the present reservation,
but also a large portion of the present
cities Of st. Paul and Minneapolis
When Col. Leavenworth arrived, in
1919, he at first made temporary en-
campment at about the present site of
Mendoza. Later this camp was moved
to this side of the river, opposite the
present post, which was called Camp
Coldwater, and here the company
stayed in log dwellings until Col. Leav-
enworth had been relieved and Col. Jo-
siah Smelling assumed command.
The fort, which had been building on
the high bluffs in the triangle of land
formed by the junction of the two riv-
ers, had been steadily going on, and in
the winter of 1S20-21 the command
moved TO the new fort, which, while by
no means complete, the walls having
been finished on only three sides, yet
afforded a better protection against
cold and the attacks of savages than
the camp at Coldwater.
The Original Fort.
The fort, when completed, consisted
of two blockhouses, a row of barracks,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04


being remodeled to accommodate them
to the use of four troops of cavalry,
with the officers.
This old post, concerning which there
rs the most interest from historical
point OF view, will be remodeled, it Is
hoped, early next season. The plans
call for a widening of the old buildings
by the addition of an arcade to run the
length of the buildings, to the present
one-story structures will be added a
second story, which will be the full
Width of the present story, the arcade
being built out over the latter. Two
of the present buildings will be con-
nected to form quarters for three
troops and the remaining building will
be fitted up for one troop more. The
small building at the end of the tri-
angle nearest the river will be fitted
up for the commanding officer. and the
other building will be fitted up into six
sets of officers quarters. The round
tower now seen at the end of the
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

some of hewn logs and others of stone.
The fort was built in a diamond shape,
and, where the trees had been cut
away, was placed a half-moon battery,
within which were the officers quar-
tiers. AT the opposite point of the in
closure and overlooking both valleys
was watch tower, the whole being
surrounded with a stone wall of con-
siderable height
The fort was called by Col. Smelling
Fort st. Anthony" and it was known
by this name until 1928, when Gen.
Winfield Scott visited the place and
named it Fort Smelling, an action
which was Endorsed by the war depart
ment the next year. Col. Smelling con-
tinued to command the post which he
had built until the Fifth infantry was
ordered to st. Louis, in 1927, in which
year he journeyed to Washington,
where he died, after a short Illness in
his forty-fifth year.
The memoirs of several persons who
were of the little command at Fort
Smelling during these early days show
the wide interval separating those
times from the present. The mails at
first came once a year, and later semi
annually, finally every month, being
carried by an Indian from Prairie du
Chen. In 1928, the post was thrown
into excitement by the arrival of the
first steamboat, the Virginia, which
tied up to the bank in front of the post
amid the firing of guns and cheers of
the total white population, and also the
great CONSERVATION of the Indians, who
could not be induced to come any
where near the bank while the boat re-
manned.
Whisky Caused DueIs.
The occupations of the officers in
summer time were hunting and scout
ing expeditions into the surrounding
country. In winter the time used to
hang heavy on their hands and thew
took to cards and whisky, with the re-
suit that there We're several duels be-
tween brother officers during the wears
from 1926 to 1880.
The whisky question seems to have
occupied as prominent a place in mil
ttary affairs of those days as does the
canteen at present, for in 1929 j. Emer-
son, the surgeon of the post, wrote to
Washington 'as friend to the soldier
and OF temperance in the army" stat
ing that since the middle of winter we
nave been completely inundated with
ardent spirits, and consequently the
most beastly scenes of intoxication
among the soldiers and Indians are of
daily occurrence"
These ardent spirits" he said. were
brought in by those who have settled
on the reservation in spite of Mai
Plympton's orders, Emerson concluded
by asking that these people, and par
ticularly discharged soldier whom he
named, be removed from the vicinity
of the fort. Later in the same year.
Brig. Gen. John e. Wood, after a tour
OF inspection, reports whisky to be "as
common as water"
In spite of whisky and Indians, how
ever, the new post flourished, and in
1919 was reported to be the most I'M
portant point west of Prairie du ChiAn.
The chief opposition to the fort came
from the settlers themselves, whom it
was designed to protect from the saw
ages. These people claimed that the
reservation was too large and was an
country
The first protest noted is by the peo-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

tary of War Floyd, and on July 81, 1857,
all of the land was ordered turned over
to the purchaser with the exception of
a small portion necessary for the troops
there, which were finally withdrawn in
May, 1858. 80
During the tendency of this sale,
which was afterward declared fraudu-
lent by an investigating committee of
congress, which carefully exonerated
Steele, however, from any participa-
ton in the fraud, one man whose name
is lost had courage to protest, in a.
communication to Gen. Scott, in which
he says:
II do not know about the sale, but
am perfectly certain that no military
man on the spot at all acquainted with
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

the hill, which pumps water to the
post from the new well, with a capacity
of thousand gallons a minute The
electric light plant has been installed
and the whole post wired for electric
ity, not only in all the buildings, but
along the main driveways and walks
as well. Besides this, the amount of
new roadway being constructed about
the reservation mounts into the thou
sands of feet, all of the roads in the
post being macadamized as WELL
Parade Ground of Sixty-fiv Acres.
Two miles of cement walk have been
laid and 500 trees have been set out
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

and at the head of navigation on the
Mississippi river
Under the liberal policy of the war
department, and by the active inter-
est OF the members of the Minnesota
delegation in congress, Smelling has
had fair share of the appropriation
Tor Improvement and enlargement since
1898, eliminating in the year just pass
ing in an expenditure, for work under
way or under contract. of S1,5OO,O00.
When the work now contemplated is
finished, only two posts in the coun-
Try, Fort Leavenworth, named after
the man who first selected the spot for
Fort Smelling, in 1919, and Fort Riley.
can be compared with it either in point
of number of its garrison strength or
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

uary, 1858, and took come time. and
when the sale was declared fraudulent
and ordered rescinded. Steele, who had
not made the final payments, because
he claimed that the land had been
much deprecated in value because of
the investigation, put in claim for
damages to the extent of 100000. Gen.
John B. Sanborn took the matter UP for
him, and after it was at first defeated
by Ignatius Donnelly finally got bill
through congress appointing a commits
sion to settle the claims.
1t was during these years preceding
the sale Of the reservation that an
amusing correspondence between the
o1nclals of the war department and
several persons, presumably with Gin
fiuence," occurred in the attempt to Sc
cure for Mrs. Hooe. the widow of a
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

necessary for, the small force stationed
there. The secretary of war disap-
proved of this. as he said, the point was
valuable, one for distributing to the
posts at the frontier. He agreed, how
ever, that the reservation was too large
If the policy was followed of sending
all the available troops to the Indian
country.
The fort, however. had fallen on evil
times and its history for the next few
years is recalled with regret The nil
itary authorities at Washington were
convinced that the post was no longer
necessary. in spite of the fact that
many insisted that it should be kept as
a depot for the supply of the Other,
depot for the supply of the others
forts in the Northwest at least.
j. B. Floyd, who gained a certain
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

Three young men, supposed to have
come from Wayne county, did a thriv-
ing business at a religious gathering on
Ten Mile creek, in Lincoln county, yes
terday by selling watermelons that had
been plugged. From pint to quart
of whisky had been poured into each
melon. Almost hundred horse traders
were on the ground. AS is usual with
such gatherings in the rural districts of
West Virginia, these men purchased
freely. Before many hours had passed
majority were intoxicated
general fight broke out, which
came near ending disastrously. 1t IS
said this same crowd of young men has
been doing business at other gatherings
in the rural districts by "spiking" mel
ons with whisky and selling them.
United States officers are endeavorine
to locate the men who sold the melons.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

ito thus seem to slight the wife ,of a
brother officer in the matter. Mrs.
EHeoe was, notwiths landing, granted
: the privileges asked for, and came to
Smelling 70 take control, but her vic
rtorYnwas short lived, as the post was
sold the next year. Nothing more at
4eastfis in the records before the con-.
gressional committee which looked
into all this part of the Smelling his
tory.
,4,,aa T,urned Into Sheep Ranch.
After the troops had been withdrawn
into a sheep ranch, and even the old
post which had seen so many stirring
scenes, was used as a sheep field, into
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

the state of affairs would have recon-
mended such measure"
This paper is on file in the war de-
partment, with this curt Endorsement
of Secretary Floyd, dated Aug. 81,
1857:
THE dissertation about Fort Shell
ing, it's sale and the Importance of 1t
for military depot is a gratuitous in
termeddling in a matter already dis
posed of by competent authority"
Steele Puts in Big Claim.
The investigation was begun in jan
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

in the fineness and completeness of its
buildings and equipment.
Capt. Schofield, the constructing
.quartermaster in charge of all the
work at Smelling, outlined yesterday
what was being done at the Fort
The plan of the war department con-
templates three divisions of the post,
the infantry division, which will oc-
cupy the ground which it does at pres
ent practically; the artillery section.
Which will be situated along the road
leading from the bridge to the infantry
parade ground, and the cavalry post,
which will occupy the old post grounds,
the old fort buildings such as are left,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04
Quicker Alaskan Service.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Oct. "a re-
duction of about ten days in the time
for mails from Seattle, Wash, to Tanana,
on the Yukon river, Alaska. is expected
by the postoff1ce department today for
service on new route from Valdez to
Tanana $40 miles distant James Fish, OF
Valdez, was given the contract at $1,000
a round trip which is to be made twice
a month between Dec. next and April
80, 1904.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04

in command of the post during the ab-
senee of the regiment at Fort Riley, Kan.
A daughter was born to Mrs. Sayre.
wife of Lieut.. Sayre, on Thursday last.
A hop will be given by the officers OF
the regiment next Friday evening
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-04
WATERMELONS ARE
FOUND TO BE SPIKED"
Religious Gathering Is Disturbed by
Whisky Soaked Fruit.

HUNTINGTON, w. Va, Oct. g.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

briefly summed up as being the result
Of the action Of congress Of Colombia
at Bogota IN rejecting the Hay Herran
canal treaty The Panamaians are al
most to a man in favor Of the con
struction Of the canal by the United
States and it had repeatedly been
prophesied before and after the meet
ing OF congress that Panama would
secede if the treaty was rejected and
would probably come to terms with the
United States for the building Of the
great isthmian waterway.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
TWO LIARS


l0riginaLl
"Remain here, captain said the gen.
eral until B.'s corps arrives. AS soon
as you see the head Of the column turn
ing tie bend III the road below bring
me word as fast as your horse will car
r. YOU
We had drawn rein at the gateway Of
8 large plantation. two pillars Of stone,
each surrounded BY Lion, from which
a long line Of hedge extended in either
direction almost as far as the eye could
zee Within, a winding road lined with
tropical plants and rows Of high shade
trees extended to the house | rode
into the place and Up to a broad ye-
rauda 4 white headed cid negro came
out Of the front door and eyed me crit
ically
Il would like a lodging in this house
for a time" said to him For how
long don't know not less than few
days and not moro than d few weeks
The old man led me into a spacious
room on the ground floor and said
Would you like q iulep, sahg'
When be returned with it. I question
ca him, and he told me that on our APP
proach the family had departed and
there was MOI human being about the
place except himself and me- for they
had taken with them the few negroes
who had remained loyal TO them Ey-
ery day tho man set before me the
mcagcr food the ample space for pro-
visions contained and every night at-
tended me to q chamber on the floor
above, where / passed fle night ii a
bed whose four high posts seemed 70
stand like sentinels to watch over my
slumbers
one night, not being able to sleep,
went into the corridor and. sitting on
d window seat Enclosed by curtains,
spent III hour looking ont Oh the moon
lit grounds fell asleep Waking
suddenly, | heard a Light footstep and
the rustic Of d dress OH the staircase.
what prompted me. whether an I'M
stlnct for safety or OF modesty, know
not, but I drew she curtains and peep
ed The moonlight revealed the figure
81 a young girl descending from the
floor above Her face was oval, her
hair raven, her eyes a lustrous black,
in which even IN the uncertain light I
could detect anxiety, while the lines Of
her bust and limbs were exquisite
curves. The figure as It passed my
door paused and listened then passed
on softly to the floor below. ! remained
where | was for few minutes and it
returned, moving with the same eau
ton, to the upper floor
ETHAN" / said to the old negro the
next morning. are you sure there is
no one In tile house but yourself and
me?1
"sure nun, sah What max yo'
arskr He looked at me suspiciously
"Haye you ever heard that the house
is haunted?7
Now | come to think of il, sab, !
have heerd o hants walkin' bout in de
night. Have yo' seen any on .em, sahT'
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
The Times Daily Short Story.
se oSeSeScSeSeSeSeS seSG $3.50

Il think ! saw one last night Have
you ever heard Of a lovely young girl
haunting the houseT'
Pears to me, sab, have herd
bout dat"
Il saw her last night | was Tempt
ed to see if she was a ghost by sending
q bullet through her.
The old man locked troubled dat
ghost didn't never hurt nobody be
said eHan't no 'casion 10 shoot nor
notten.'
4 won't. Ethan. If ! see her again.
I'm not afraid of ghosts. Give me an
other cup Of that substitute for coffee
fTain't berry fne, sah De block
aders don't let us hab any real coffee in
desc days Don't shoot none O de
hauts, sah. Dey won't hurt yo'"
That night did not 60 to bed till
past midnight There was another
walking Of the ghost This time she
ran down the stairs, a terrible anxiety
on every feature. | made up my mind
that some one upstairs was very III
and she was going down for some need
ed article When she came back
opened the curtains and met her face
to face
"Alls lostw she moaned.
"Alrs gained" replied. "You pe0-
pie Of the south have dreaded our e5n-
ing so long that when we come you are
in terror for your lives Some one IS III.
There Is a regiment stationed al i. FIVE
miles from here ! can ride over and
bring a surgeon.
She stood irresolaie for moment,
then snid:
Yes, il Il better that he should be
taken than that he should die Ny
brother an officer Or the Confederate
army. is lying upstairs wounded. and
we fear he is dying
There was satisfaction in the ride
took that moonlight night, bringing Il
surgeon back with me 10 trent an enc
my. BY the time | returned the family
We're not only reeonciled 10 trust me,
but eagerly awaiting the man brought,
When we entered the sick room, there
stood mother and sister by the bed
side Of the invalid The surgeon could
not have been more tender with the
most beloved Of lis comrades than he
was with the Confederate. remaining
with him till morning and coming ev-
cry day for week, when he pronounc-
ed him out Of danger
ETHAN" said one day after the SET
cret was ont, ARE there any more
ghosts in the houseg"
80 de Lawd. mars'r, rze berry
much mo'tyned bout dat what ! toie
20. MIissis and Missy Florence reckon
cd go Yankees d Kill Mars'r Howard
Is soon as yo' sot eyes on him.
Ethan" ! replied 'yon told me big
. about the 'hants'"
When General BIS troops arrived,
rode out to The general and told him
that there was ease Of yellow fever
in the house and he had better put a
guard about il till the men had passed
IN order to be sure no one became I'M
fected. Then rode on to report his ar
rival to my general, muttering:
You're a bigger liar than the dar-
KY" AMBROSE SPENCER.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
Ask for RoMOc LAXATIVE TABLETS CURE Foa CONSTIPATION
RICKfRT WELLS, 100 North Main St, Barre, Vt


Venezuelan Arbitration Resumed.
The Hague, Nov. 5.-After the in
terval Of a month the Venezuelan ar
bitration has been resumed here. The
president Of the tribunal. NJ. Mura-
Vieff, the Russian minister Of justice,
asked counsel to confine themselves to
the material points Of the controversy
and announced that the tribunal would
sit from 10 a. m, TO 5 p. m. daily. BY
general consent the counter case Of
Venezuela, which United States Minis
ter Bowen through an oversight failed
to deposit in time, was admitted and
the arguments commenced.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
aTany nurt b TrolIer Mreelz.

Danville, Ill. Nov. 3. - Conductor
Lewis Lashley was killed and dozen
passengers were injured in a wreck on
the Danyille- Urbana-C Champagne Inter
urban line at yermillion Heights The
car jumped the track while rounding
a sharp curve, and Lashley was caught
in the wreckage and crushed to death.
None Of the injured will die.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
Nero oraered q panama.

San Diego, Cal, NOV. g. Captain
shurtIeff Of the United States collier
Nero, which arrived here from Phila-
delphia a week ago and which was
waiting for the arrival Of the Pacific
fleet to discharge her $500 tons Of
coal, has received orders to go to
Panama. 1t is supposed that the Pa
cifc fleet, now at Acapulco, has also
been ordered there, and the Nero viii
coal these vessels there.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

FUWeFH IhuOfNe WhcedonInn linn.
Constantinople, NOV. 5.-The British
German, French and italian ambassa.
doris visited the porte and notified the
Turkish officials that they were In re
ceipt Of instructions from their respec-
tive governments to support the Aus.
tro-Russian reform scheme. The porte
strongly objects to the control feature
Of the reforms Orders have been Isl
sued for the disbandment Of ninety
six battalions Of reserves.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

Philadelphia. Nov. 5.--Four hundred
workmen in the Bloom mill and the
iron and steel finishing departments Of
the Pencoyd Iron works have been
laid of, making total Of nearly 1000
men rendered idle by the gradual clos
ing Of the big plants. The eight inch
steel mill VIII be closed on Saturday
which viii complete the shutdown Of
the establishment.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
SIXTEEN KILLED
Government Powder Depot at Iona
Island. New York, Blows Up.

Government Powder Depot at Iona
Island, New York. niows u.
Peekskill, N. u, Nov. 5.-Sixteen mea
are reported dead and a number wound.
ed as a result of q series Of explosions
on Iona island in the Hudson, used by
the government ms storehouse for
dynamite and powder The first ex-
plosien was followed by others fo
more than an hour, the detonations be-
ing heard in this city.
A telephone call was sent here fce
every physician available, and all vic
could be found responded to the ca5t
Beyond the fact that sixteen men were
dead and many wounded no details o.
the disaster were obtainable.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
codx snlls nin Nite nnat.

Calais. France. Nov. SIS. Il. Cody.
who on Oct, 10 made an unsuccessful
attempt to cross the channel from Do
yer to Calais In eollapsihle boat
drawn by kite, has started on another
attempt TO perform the feat.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

Hollands First Newspaper.
The first newspaper published in
appeared ON the morning Of
Jan. s. 1866. 1t was called De Weecke-
tycke Courante Van Europa.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

Philadelphia, Nov. 5.-The condition
Of w. u. Ellsins is reported no worse.
He is said to be in no Immediate dan
ger of death.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06
siberian brides.

A Siberian bride on going to her hus-
bands house is required to forthwith
prepare d dinner as a proof Of her skin
in houseWifery.
The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-11-06

FennsyIvnnfa FOstmaster.
Washington, Nov. Edward H.
Williams has been appointed fourth
class postmaster at Pine Flats, Pa.
The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-11-06
We can do your job work.
saves Two from Death.

Our little daughter had an almost IA
tai attack Of whooplng cough and bron-
chltis," writes Mre. W. X. Heviland, OF
Armonk, n. ", "but, when all other
remedies failed, we saved her life with
Dr. Kings New Discovery. Our niece,
who had consumption in an advanced
stage. also used this wonderful medicine
and today she lie perfectly we'll" Dee
perate throat and lung diseases yield 10
Dr. Kings New Discovery as to no other
medicine on earth. Iniallible for coughs
aud colds. Doc and q bottles RuAran-
teed by John Boyden & Son. Trial bot
ties free.