The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-08
OLD TALES REVIVED
BY EARLY PIONEERS
HERE FOR CEREMONY
Hundreds Of States First Set
tiers on Hand For Laying
of Cornerstone

Old friendships we're revived, old
contacts renewed, and old stories were
retold here Saturday by the hun
dreds Of pioneers gathered in Bis
marck for the celebration held in
connection with the laying of the cor
nerstone for the new North Dakota
state capitol building.
Hotel facilities were taxed to the
utmost and Hobbies were crowded with
scores of visitors from throughout the
northwest
Tales of the frontier days were re-
counted by the old settlers, gathered
in the city where they once watched
q group of notables from all parts Of
the world assemble for the laying Of
the cornerstone for the first capitol
OF great agricultural state.
Among the many "old-timerS" on
hand for the festivities was j. A.
Coulter of Dawson, dean Of the Kid
der county pioneers. Erect and alert
despite his 70 years. Coulter bravec
the chilly fall air to come here for the
ceremony even though he is suffering
from a severe cold.
Came Here IN III
Coulter first came to Dawson 81
years ago as telegrapher for the
Northern Pacific railroad. Carefully
wrapped in paper he carries a picture
of Dawson taken in 1881. When the
photograph was taken. a depot Sec
ton house, telegrapher's office and a
frame building were the only struc-
leo hoe MI
ture of Sitting Bull, which was pur-
chased from the famous medicine
man for 25 cents by Coulter, himself.
Charles Anderson of Sterling also
was on hand for the exercises and re-
calls with pride that it was he who
mixed the mortar that cemented into
place the cornerstone in North Da-
kotas historic old capitol
John E. DIN Of Sims, one Of Nor
ION county's earliest pioneers, ar
rived here Saturday morning for the
festivities. He aided in the manu-
facture of the brick used in the old
capitol and hauled many loads of it
to Bismarck from brick plant at
Sims. He painted glowing picture
Of the frontier days of the state. He
was present when a group OF cow
boys attempted to intimidate Theo-
dore Roosevelt by firing pistol shot
through his hat. DIN chuckled at
the memory of how Roosevelt acted
under the circumstances to the chag-
rim of his tormentors. Olin said
Roosevelt offered them a round of
drinks. The Marquis de Mores was
the most colorful figure in the fron-
tier west, DIN said. The French
nobleman was both honest and fear
less and cultured gentleman.
Washburn Men Present
Fred Hoover and William Lindell,
both of Washburn, were among the
hCnored guests at the section reserv-
ed for pioneers. Both were present
at the cornerstone laying in 1883 and
Hoover laid the second brick in the
walls of the first capitol building.
Both were employed by contractors,
who erected the structure, and Hoov-
err also worked in construction of the
west wing addition.
I'D like a hand in building this
one. too Hoover said, but / guess
I'm too old for that kind Of work
now" Both are pioneer residents OF
Mclean county, having owned and
operated farms in that district since
the early '80s.
Mrs. Isabelle Hines, mother Of Mrs.
George HUMPHREYS, $50 Eighth SITS
Is another early resident of Bis
marck who viewed the laying OF the
cornerstone in 1888 and who occupied
one of the seats reserved for the
frontier settlers.