The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-09
NO. Il, The HOODOO.
There Are at Least Thirteen Persons
in Minneapolis Who
Think So.
The Experiences Of a Party Which
Took a Labor Day Elk
cursion.
You can't get drow' on Lac Champlaan-
So long you stay on shore.

Thrilling is the narrative of the adven-
lures OF certain prominent citizens who,
with wives and families, ventured on the
high seas Of the Minnesota river Monday
in search of rest and recreation
In the party were Mr.. and Mrs. e. w.
Goddard, Mr.. and Mrs. w. T. Frazier,
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Elmendorf and two
daughters, Mr.. and Mrs. John Warnock,
Mr.. and Mrs. Gus Brigham and Miss Belle
Barnaby-thirteen in all. Blithe of heart
and needless Of the hoodoo did the voy-
ayers set forth from Fort Smelling Mon
day morning on the good ship Ollie Belle,
bound for Shakopee
Alternating storm and sunshine pursued
the party up the Minnesota river until
Shakopee was raised just off the port bow
about 4 o'clock. Shakopee did not mind
the raising. and with merry joust and
many roundelay the members of the
party started on it's home journey at 6
o'clock, ministering to their material
wants by the way, but little thinking that
the forty miles Of water between them
and home would stretch out into many
hours ere their voyage had come to its
conclusion.
The way was dark and the night was
chill as the sturdy Ollie Belle swung into
Mississippis arms-and then the boiler
blew up. Or, If it didn't blow up, some
thing blew out of 1t, and with that some
thing went all the steam to be had.
Cause for Screams.
At the instant of the explosion there
was a chorus of feminine screams not
unmixed with some healthy voiced
imprecations and huge cloud of steam,
which fairly enveloped the boat, and the
party began to float disnally down the
| unlighted river. With no method of sig
mailing for help and no means Of stopping
the boat, there was prospect that the
Ollie Belle would either be run down by
| some other craft abroad on the waters
or drop gently over the first log boom that
came handy. Speculation over these
cheerful possibilities became rift.
Just as they had given up all hope
a dark figure was espied on the Mflwau-
kee bridge over the Minnesota river, the
boat bumped into the apron of the bridge
and a. wall Of woe was raised that nigh
? have been heard half way round thu
world. A rope was thrown, the boat made
fast and everybody drew a long breath
This was at 1890 o'clock. 49,. .~.-..
Man the boats' shouted Captain
George Taylor to his crew, and he tool
the oars in one skiff while the crew, con
sist1ng Of First and Last Mate "Sawdus
Bill stepped into the other. In Cap
tain Taylor's skiff were placed Mr.. ant
Mrs. Frazier and Mrs. Goddard, and II
Elmendorf and her two daughters, Mis-
Barnaby and Mrs. Goddard, and ami'
fearful farewells to those temperate!
abandoned on the wrecked steamer, tn
boats drifted into the darkness.
The Last Four Miles.
II After breaking the one oarlock he pos
sessed "Sawdust Bill padded down fou
miles of cherries river to the foot Q
: Eagle street. st. Paul, while the Taylo
boat landed it's precious burden at tn
union station. Time, 1890 a. m. Tw
!, | ri fho nt in
{ before Messrs. Elmendorf and Warnocl
the last to leave the ship, came over he
side at $3.50 In the morning. .'
And then the party got together at tn
, Ryan hotel and sang one verse of NV
Won't Go Home Till Morning." an
agreed that they had had g. very mic
) time. II think it was the number thrice
that did it," says Mr.. Goddard.
The Place to Get Your Shoes
Where they've got the stock. That's tn
Nickel Plate.