The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-29

1929 to July II, 1920. Subsequently he
was the hero of the Mexican war, win
ming ronown on many battle fields. He
became. the idol of the American peo-
pie, who recognized his integrity and
7 uperb courage, and by burst of pop
liar favor thew raised him to the high
| st office in their gift. He had four
| daughters, some of them lively girls at
| his fortress; and the youngest of them
| became the wife of Lieut. Jefferson Da-
is, by an extraordinary elopement.
Taylor was said by tradition to have
)een rigid in domestic matters, and
When tattoo was sounded he would send
he young galIants to their quarters.
What Affected the Fort
"Many things affected the fortunes of
hose early days, most of all, perhaps,
he Mississippi river. For thousands of
years' its turbid waters had kissed the
eet of yonder promontory awaiting the
oming of the Anglo Saxon. Great lakes
4
md great rivers are the highways which
he Almighty has prepared for the de-
| clipping of the interior of great CONT
| tents. Corporations cannot own or con-
| rol them They are, as the oceans, free
This mighty stream ministered to the
necessities and comforts of the new
tort.
"The great event of those years of
| solitude was the arrival of steam
boat, When the smoke, gracefully cudl-
NC amid the green trees, told that a
,oat was coming, it brought out the
women, officers and men, and the startl-
| d Indians from their wigwams, and
| lied the very air with expectancy and
| oy. Then came the mail, the letters,
he newsstand the wilderness, for a
| vivid moment, touched the very heart
If the great throbbing world beyond.
| "This Amazonian river was then the
me vast artery of trade and travel, the
magnet which drew all things to its ev-
r flowing current. Gathering up scores
/ If affluents, and reaching a thousand
Instant lakes, it was the living thread
| hat held all commercial and social life
Mighty changes have been wrought, and
he stream is denied some of its print
| i've power; yet it still flows on through
is murmuring pines and by rocky
ihores, singing as it goes Tennyson's
| CHEEKY song.
'Men may come and men may 60,
But ] 60 on forever"
"The visits of distinguished men to
he fort were inspiring events to the Sc
luded garrison. Gen. Winfield Scott in
S24 was entertained right royalty at
he fort. He was the guest of Col.
| Smelling. All the officers and their
wives were persent at his reception, and
he ladies were distinguished by their
.legant dress and flashing diamonds.
Famous Guests at Fort.
Henry R. Schoolcraft, noted scholar
md the discoyerer of the sources of the
Mississippi, was their guest in July,
| 1882,
"Josepb Nicolas Nicollet, a distin-
| pushed savant and famous as an as
| ronomer, in 1925 studied the frozen
| stars from the old tower through our
| lear atmosphere. He was the most
ongenial and polite of all the foreign
| RS who ever visited the fort.
"Lewis, Cass, the governor of Michi-
IAN, and a statesman of high repute,
vas here in 1920. George Catlin, fam
Jus for his work on the North American
| indians, studied the habits and costumes
# the savages under the protection of
he fort where he long had studio.
Count Beltrami, an Italian of finish
I'd education, great explorer and auth
IF, was here during Col Snelling's day
We have county named in his honor
Gen. John c. Fremont of, fame as an
Explorer, and afterward the first Repub-
lean candidate for the presidency, was
lere as a guest in 1885, He was
'riend and companion, while here of
Nicollet
capt. Frederick Marryat, the English
,uthor, who wrote ''Peter Simple" and
"Midshipman Easy" was at the fort in
1887. His ''Diary in America which
provoked such hot discussion was partly
written at the fort. Gen. Sibley pro.
bounced him rough and conceited in
'haracter.
'The visits of such men as these did
much to Keep the garrison in healthy
touch with the outside world, and to
rive education and tone to officials and
men.
'Life at frontier post is not always
peaceful and happy. Two duels are of
record in which blood flowed In 1926 a
Young officer fought a duel with the
son of Col. Smelling, whom he wounded.
vt the court martial which tried the
case the accused objected to the testi-