The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-06-29
M|NOT IN THE
DAYS OF old
Little Mack and w. E. mansfield
Recall the Good Times They Had
When Mlnot was 1 Tent city-Hsr
First Brick Building.

When Mlnot was Q TENT CHy-Her
First Brick Building.
Little Mack" editor Of the FLASHER
Hustler, was visitor in Minot, Sun
day and Monday, on his way home
from the editorial ASSOCIATION meeting.
He met his old time frisnd. w. =.
Mansfield and the two talked for an
hour OF Minot in her early days
Those were good old days" Lit
tie Mac said, "in fact l have never
seen any as happy. That was back in
1887 when Minot had % saloons.
many OF them being run in tents. He
pointed out places where three story
business blocks now stood and told an
Interesting story of each spot.
They referred to the first brick
building that was erected in Minot by
Mr.. Mansfield, which is now occupied
by Solien's five and ten cent store.
The brick was manufactured at Col
TONS kiln at Burlington.
Allen Tompkins, of Rugby, built a
frame building, which was the begin
ming of the Leland hotel. When H. T.
Van Wagner started his brick yard
here, the first brick he made were
used for the old part Of the Leland.
They talked Of the first Justice Sof
the Peace Minot had, fellow named
Rourke, who was good to his friends,
but who salavated his enemies. He
was 50 unpopular with many that
when he crossed the street to go to
the Leland for his meals, he always
threw his Winchester over his shoul-
der. In those days, every man carried
gun and knew when and how to use
it. Women were never insulted, tho
the town was full of the worst kind
of characters.
One time some one placed keg
Of powder under Rourke's office and
fuse was lighted The onlv reason
that the Justice was not blown up
among the angels is that the fuse
went out.
Little Mac conducted ! newspaper
ct Burlington, which did valiant SER
Vice in the county seat fight. BuN-
ington would have won only for the
fact that Jim HILL, who was friendly
to Mniot, saw fit to send work
train with many laborers ont to Mi
not and 1t is said that these men
were voted four times, and every vote
for Minot, at Lone Tree, Des Laos,
Minot and just before the polls were
closed they were rushed out to the
stock yards. One fellow q big Irish
man who was voting his hourth time,
was challenged The Judge asked his
name and in broad Irish brogue he
declared: Sure. and its Patrick Oh
sol" The Judge allowed him to vote
hut remarked that this was the first
time he had met q Norwegian with an
Irish given name.
The first Judge OF district was
fellow by the name OF Francis, who
was sent out from New Jersey to
show the natives the straight and
narrow ppth. ~
Hundreds Of men died in ,Minpt
and were buried In the hobo ceme-
terry which we laid out, on the side
OF the hill, and their folks have never
learned what became Of them" said
Little Mac. "Once remember when
q oIcal character named Scotty and :
helper were digging grave for one
OF them. Both we're pretty we'll pifli.
Gated and scotty fell into the grave
after Il was dug. He was too drunk
to crawl out and his companion
thought It would be ! GOOD Joke 70
bury him. He had the grave parti-
any niled and scotty lwas nearsy
covered when some Of us heard his
cries for help and rescued him."
Judge Carter Of Bowbe1ls has issued
SO marriage licenses sfnoe he took.
charge Of hid once. II,
~. - AAN 49,