Dusting Off the Old Ones (150)

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(Created page with "'''150. The Jumping of Riverside Park''' Sam Gordon, in his "Recollections of Old Milestown", tells a part of the story of the "Jumping of Riverside Park" but, while browsing...")
 
 
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Louis King and some of the boys ran the fire trap to the lot on the corner, intending as public spirited citizens, to secure an eligible place for that crazy institution (King was afterwards Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department). While the panic was at its height someone suggested that lots might be taken on the north face of the park, and the greedy speculators turned their efforts and attention to that as yet unoccupied quarter. One thoughtful dignified citizen asked if Leighton's pump did not by virtue of its location, constitute in his behalf possessory right to the 'lot' on which it stood, and being informed with intelligent promptitude that it did not, exhausted himself in an effort to loosen with his hands the screws that held it in place. Others strove to move the wagons packed on the reserve; the air was full of hush imprecations, for fear Basinski or somebody would learn what was up. Chris Hehli, after jumping on all that he thought he could hold, ran to George Reitz to waken him to catch on to some others; Jim Coleman was promised, if he would keep quiet, that he should have one. Sam O'Connell got two very advantageously situated opposite his hotel. Mr. Wilson of Helena, true as ever to the land grabbing instincts of that constituency, lit out from the hotel and gobbled a couple of lots and then, as a friend, returned and woke up Kennedy and told him of the chance to make his fortune. It is said, and on good authority, that Kennedy and Cotter and Flick stayed not upon the order of their going but went at once; Flick is reported to have been a spectacle.
 
Louis King and some of the boys ran the fire trap to the lot on the corner, intending as public spirited citizens, to secure an eligible place for that crazy institution (King was afterwards Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department). While the panic was at its height someone suggested that lots might be taken on the north face of the park, and the greedy speculators turned their efforts and attention to that as yet unoccupied quarter. One thoughtful dignified citizen asked if Leighton's pump did not by virtue of its location, constitute in his behalf possessory right to the 'lot' on which it stood, and being informed with intelligent promptitude that it did not, exhausted himself in an effort to loosen with his hands the screws that held it in place. Others strove to move the wagons packed on the reserve; the air was full of hush imprecations, for fear Basinski or somebody would learn what was up. Chris Hehli, after jumping on all that he thought he could hold, ran to George Reitz to waken him to catch on to some others; Jim Coleman was promised, if he would keep quiet, that he should have one. Sam O'Connell got two very advantageously situated opposite his hotel. Mr. Wilson of Helena, true as ever to the land grabbing instincts of that constituency, lit out from the hotel and gobbled a couple of lots and then, as a friend, returned and woke up Kennedy and told him of the chance to make his fortune. It is said, and on good authority, that Kennedy and Cotter and Flick stayed not upon the order of their going but went at once; Flick is reported to have been a spectacle.
  
Such a stampede was never known, gamblers cashed in their checks, dealers stopped their games, thirsty men dropped their glasses and even men invited to take a drink stopped not for the seductions of liquor, but lit out for the woodpile to secure the appointments for a 'foundation'. W. B. Towne, the learned and distinguished clerk of the probate court, humped himself to secure a lot, and painted his name on it so there could be no possible mistake. Judge Walker, his chief, overborne by the crush, did not arrive upon the scene until too late to secure any territory other than that one near the bridge. During the panic, some fellow thoughtful of the past, asked if Basinski had a title. The answer was a cry ringing clear and encouragingly in the midnight air: 'Basinski be da--ed. We will hold these lots till Halifax freezes over.' The ground is covered with 'foundations' laid, and it is also covered with the corpses of baffled hopes. There is one souvenir, in battered form, who contested the right of Professor Bach to the corner lot north of the Inter-Ocean. He remarked, as he and the Professor were amicably adjusting the lines, that he would be 'goronged if he didn't hold that lot' but a quiet and impressive application of a beer glass on the side of his head, gently laid him low upon the breast of his mother earth. Take it all in all, the event shows the desire of our people to locate here permanently, and take up, as far as possible, advantageous tracts of land lying within our reach. In other words, the public spirited citizens of Miles City would walk off with anything they could get hold of, not even barring a government reserve, or a red hot stove."
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Such a stampede was never known, gamblers cashed in their checks, dealers stopped their games, thirsty men dropped their glasses and even men invited to take a drink stopped not for the seductions of liquor, but lit out for the woodpile to secure the appointments for a 'foundation'. W. B. Towne, the learned and distinguished clerk of the probate court, humped himself to secure a lot, and painted his name on it so there could be no possible mistake. Judge Walker, his chief, overborne by the crush, did not arrive upon the scene until too late to secure any territory other than that one near the bridge. During the panic, some fellow thoughtful of the past, asked if Basinski had a title. The answer was a cry ringing clear and encouragingly in the midnight air: 'Basinski be da--ed. We will hold these lots till Halifax freezes over.' The ground is covered with 'foundations' laid, and it is also covered with the corpses of baffled hopes. There is one souvenir, in battered form, who contested the right of Professor Bach to the corner lot north of the [[Inter-Ocean Hotel]]. He remarked, as he and the Professor were amicably adjusting the lines, that he would be 'goronged if he didn't hold that lot' but a quiet and impressive application of a beer glass on the side of his head, gently laid him low upon the breast of his mother earth. Take it all in all, the event shows the desire of our people to locate here permanently, and take up, as far as possible, advantageous tracts of land lying within our reach. In other words, the public spirited citizens of Miles City would walk off with anything they could get hold of, not even barring a government reserve, or a red hot stove."

Latest revision as of 22:08, 9 February 2014

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