Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-18

nv "lAS SNAyo ia 4NOIIu a b0AOAA Oy
fs5eorg@B. Winship. A third article
the berries will appear in an ear
ay issue of The Herald.)
(By George b. wlnahip.)
10 the Editor:
In severing relations with Post
Ifader Stiles and casting my lot on
tho banks Of Turtle River, I was &C
tuated by at least two dominant mo-
nyes: first. to improve my pecuniary
condition and get established In some
line Of business that would insure
growth: and second. to cut loose from
company with which l had involun-
tartly become ensnared. The mess
room at Stiles, where the officers
spent much of their leisure. was Q
modern day club room. and the stim-
ulating connections that yer poured
Into the stomach for appetizers and
what-not, were many and varied. ]
got into the habit Of "joining the
boys" quite frequently. and before
the winter was over / came to the
conclusion that the habit was grow
ms upon me. and that the most eff
fective way of checking its growth
a to quit the premises and get
away from the hibulous company I
had fallen into. Up to this time I had
been very abstemious and had no
craving for stimulants, but in the
Stiles cabinet was a pieasant-tasting
connection labelled Warmers Wine
be q harmless tonic. was an inebriety
coacher Of the first class. Like
most seductive influences, It was
sweet, smoo1n and celebrating, and
it's Immediate effect was not unpleas-
ant. but subsequently, however, it
fathered all the woes, miseries and
headaches thai any other ~intoxicant
produces.
Before the winter was over ] found
that my appetite for breakfast was
not as keen as customary, and that
a "toning up was necessary It the
stack of huckwheat cakes, ham and
eggs, ETC., prepared by Chief Bulge,
were properly disposed of. Then. too.
observed that when I grasped my
pen to perform my duties as a single
entry book-keeper. my hand tremoled
more or less. and hesitated to per-
form it's functions until braced up by
the ~so-called Wine Of Life" This
condition was OF insiduous CROWN;
It crept upon me like a serpent in the
grass: but when I realized that l was
getting into the tolls of the demon.
I thought the easiest way to escape
was by changing environment n
getting away from temptation. That
brief experience in Stiles store was
Of some value to me IN after life; Tor
notwithstanding any subsequent ca
reer on the frontier and association
with rough men, l never afterwards
got into the drinking habit, and as I
grew older and better informed near
ily all stimulating beverages became
r~epE<eant. to me.
HH en- g 0A -i--
Ny recollection is that it was
about the middle of April, 1871. that
William Bulge and l quit our jobs
and started for Turtle River to build
L stage station. There was no sur
veyed land in the valley at that time.
and 'squatter's right" was the only
way that land could be held by in
tending settlers, which was all right
as long as the 'squatter lived on the
land. Our outfit consisted of two
ponies and two Red River carts,
which were loaded with provisions.
camping outfit and a few tools. We
were accompanied by James Robb.
the young mar who camped with us
at Turtle River, James Hastings
Joined lis and assisted us in the con-
structton of our log shack.
The trip from PembinA was tedious.
The well defined trail, which made
travel comparatively easy in the dry
season, was partially under water.
The winters snow melted slowly. and
water stood for weeks on the flat sur
face before it found egress to the
was practically no road that could be
travelled any considerable distance:
water in shallow pools abounded on
every hand. We struck from point
TO point along the river and made
our way the best We could. aiming.
however. to reach timbered points for
our camp at night. We succeeded in
fording all the rivers, except the Big
Salt Ozark River). where we swan
Jul ponies and floated the carts
across. By placing brush On the lat
ticedr frame OF the carts we we're en-
abled to ferry our provisions and
clothing across without getting them
wet. This was the worst experience
we had on the trip, as We were wet
to the skin most of the day. 1t took
four days to reach Turtle River and
get, our camp established.
Grand Forks in III.
The site of our camp was near the
river not far from the present rail-
way bridge at Marvel. We rested and
reconnoitered the adjacent country
Tor several days before going any
considerable distance from the camp
Finally Bulge and I saddled our pom
les and struck out for Grand Forks
The first trip Of the steamer selkirk
was due up-river and We desired to
see it. and also cur information
relative to the line of stages to be
operated by Blakely e. Carpenter. We
were ready to begin the construction
of our house at Turtle, but desired