Image provided by: Yamhill County Historical Society; McMinnville, OR
About The Telephone=register. (McMinnville, Or.) 1889-1953 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1889)
THE TELEPHONE-REGISTER. M c M isxvii . i . e , November - • - O regon . 1, 1889. SAMOANS AT PLAY. Spear-Throwing, Pigeon-Catch ing, Spinning the Cocoanut. The natives of Samoa, who are noted for their very fine physical development and intelligence, are the most ardent lovers of all kinds i of sports. Like all tropical races, they are of an indolent disposition, hut when engaged in their native games it is truly surprising to note » how quickly this lethargy disap pears. Boxing and wrestling are consid ered with them, as with more civil ized races, the most engaging of all athletic sports. As a consequence THE PREMIUM LOCATION a large majority of the men are ex perts in one or both of these exer cises. On festival days, tourna ments devoted entirely to these branches of athletics are held under the auspices of ruling chiefs. Prior to the introduction of Christianity women frequently entered the ring and strove for pugilistic honors, and it is a matter of record that on many occasions they proved their muscular superiority by defeating PJ stalwart men. Since that time, however, they have been taught to engage in more womanly diversions. The Samoan method of wrestling differs greatly from that to which we are accustomed. The usual plan is to choose Bides, say four against four, and the party who . loses the greater number of falls is compelled to furnish a feast of roast pig, served up with taro, or else some other variety of food, as . naturally agreed upon prior to the commencement of the contest. A peculiar style of wrestling called “clasp and undo” is very popular among these islanders. One man clasps another tightly around the waist, and the second does the same with a third. The three thus linked together lie down upon a mat and challenge any sin- . gle man to separate them, promis ing a forfeit if he succeeds. If he proves unequal to the task, the ex pense of such forfeit must be liqui dated by the loser. Another game much relished by the young men is spear throwing. ' The young bucks of one street in a village, or of a whole village, are matched against these of another. At the appointed time they meet, I and after fixing a mark at a dis- • tance of thirty or forty feet, one of the contestants throws a small wooden spear so that it may first strike the ground and then spring upward and onward in the direction of the target. He is followed by one of the opposing party, and so on alternately until all of the spears —one to each contestant—are cast. Those who come nearest to the mark are declared to be the victors. taining the largest number ofj leave the portals of the tomb and the blue glare deepened into a great DENVER’S NABOBS. impossible to get trusted for a sack As in the majority of the games in pigeons is accounted the hero of the raise high jinks among the black ghostly flame and the Jersey men Queer Antics of Western Cattle of flour or a ham at the grocery dulged in by the Samoans, the for day and is honored by gifts of the ened ribs of lost ships on the beach. were horrified to see a long proces Kings and Lucky Miners. stores of the camps where they re feit is a grand feast at the expense choicest bits of food from his com The beach was deserted by all save sion of women and children made Denver boasts an unusual num sided, and who felt it a luxury to of the vanquished party. panions’ stores. These he usually the life-saver's, who patrolled their to “walk the plank” into watery ber of citizens who belong to those have sugar in their breakfast cups A more dangerous variation of distributes among those of his usual beats hollow with fear and graves. The light, infernal as it classes termed “bonanza kings” of coffee, now make a regular diet this amusement consists in one of friends who have proved less for trembling. seemed, was so intense that every and “cattle kings”—men who have of the luxuries of the market, and the young warriors placing himself tunate in their endeavors. Many Merrily the inquiry for ghosts line of the ship and every mover struck it rieh in the mining regions have so much money that they do a certain distance from his compan of the pigeons thus trapped are was sent by telephone from live- ment of her crew were plainly vis of Colorado, or who have rapidly not know how to spend the interest ions and permitting them to cast kept to be trained as decoys, while saving station to life-saving, from ible. Not a sound was heard by amassed fortunes on the broad on it. their spears at him. He is pro the remaining ones are baked and Sandy Hook to Cape May Satur the awed and horrified Jerseymen One often has the opportunity plains of the state in the cattle vided with no shield, but is armed eaten. day morning, and as a result Supt. who, perfectly petrified with terror, business. here of observing how a sudden with a club with which he wards The bonanza king who has be transformation from comparative “Spinning the cocoanut” affords Havens assured the anxious that made no outcry, but silently off the blows aimed at him. Some an inexhaustible fund of amuse the spooks and specters had re watched the minutest details of the come the most prominent in Denver poverty to affluence affects different of them exhibit a wonderful degree ment, and is thus played: A num mained within the shadowy pre tragedy. is ex-Senator Tabor, who acquired people. That it “turns the heads” of dexterity in parrying spear after ber of natives arrange themselves cincts of the tomb. In every place The scene was enacted, so the his honorable title some years ago of a majority of them is no question spear as they are hurled at him in a circle, and one squatting in the along the coast where Capt. Kidd Spauldin story goes, in a silence by a sixty days’ service in the and the desire to live “as good as with all the force of athletic arms. center spir.s a cocoanut around and buried his gold they say that like that of the grave. The last in United States senate. At the time any of ’em” seems to be first and Fishing matches are also very around. When it ceases its gyra not a single avaricious phantom the line of victims were two girls of the first great mining excitement foremost with all. In the greater popular, the party taking the larg tions the others immediately ascer came to steal the hidden treasure. with lovely faces, who clung to at Leadville Tabor was running a number of instances, when a Color est number of fish winning the tain toward whom the three black These facts all go to prove that each other in terror, but were small grocery store in a log cabin ado miner taps nature’s till in the stake of an elaborately cooked marks, or eyes, on the end of the there has been a general reform of shoved down the plank and into the and his wife, from whom he is now mounta'ns and secures a bag of meal. nut point, and impose upon him this particular brand of ghots, for water. Everything was motionless divorced, did laundry work for gold he comes to Denver, purchases In June the islanders indulge in some trivial task or forfeit, such as heretofore on the night of Octobe for an instant afterward. The si miners of the camp. After Tabor a home situated on Capitol hill, has pigeon catching, a sport in which unliusking a hundred chestnuts or 11th, in every year, spooks were lence was broken by the ship’s bell made a strike he went to Denver, it furnished with absurd elegance, all take especial delight, but more carrying a load of cocoanuts for the seen digging up and dragging off tolling solemnly three times, a and has resided there since. casts aside his duck mining suit especially is this the case with the benefit of his partners in the game. buried gold all along the coast, thunderous report sounded over He has invested a large amount and dons tailor-made clothes and chiefs. The most elaborate prepar This is also the Samoan method while in some places doubloons cov sea and shore, the bright glare of money in property in Denver, dresses his family in extravagant ations are made, and on such occa of casting lots. If any of their ered with green mold were found. faded away into the black vault of among which is the Tabor Grand style. He purchases for his daugh sions all the pigs in a settlement number is unwilling to perform Around Barnegat Friday night the Bkies and then the ship sank. opera house, one of the finest places ter, should he have one, a “piany," are often slaughtered to furnish a some specified duty, the question is was termed “Wrecker’s Night,” This tale was told all through Me- of histronic entertainment in the and after she has become proficient grand feast for the hunters and question is decided by spinning the and a different variety of specters deconk and will be told there until United States. Tabor procured a enough on the ivories to render their families. cocoanut to see to whom it turns enjoyed the evening air and haunt Jerseymen are no more.— Phila divorce from his first wife, who was “The Maiden’s Prayer” he is cer The food is prepared a few days its “face”—as they term it—when ed the lonely shore. These ghosts delphia Press. his helpmate during his years of tain that she has learned all that is before the appointed time and then it rests. At one time it was used thereabouts are those of the victims Drew the Line. adversity and who, during the early possible for any one to learn in this the entire population of a village in a similar manner to detect a sus of the old-time marauding Jersey A good story is being told about days in California gulch, shared country, and discusses with his starts off for the pigeon grounds in pected thief, or one who bad other men, who by false beacons decoyed town of an old gentleman who had his frugal beard, his hopes (which wife the advisability of sending her the bush. There they erect huts wise broken the established laws.— vessels to wreck and ruin on the lived for years at one of the Stam at that time were not very high— to Germany, or to Boston, or “some and very often remain for several Detroit Free Press. coast. The appearance of these ford hotels with his family. Several he rarely aspired higher than a full other for’n country” to complete weeks engaged in this peculiar specters seems to be better authen years ago his eldest daughter, who hand or a flush) and assisted the her musical education. He is a No Phantom Appeared. sport. ticated than those of Kidd’s kind, was married, died. After a suitable domestic coach up the hill of pros long time learning not to eject to The ground is first cleared and The night of Friday, October 11th for the notorious “Wreckers of Bar time the bereaved widower asked perity by taking in washing. Ta bacco juice on the velvet carpet and the chiefs station themselves at cer was what is familiarly known negat” are figures in local history for the hand of the next daughter. bor, after obtaining a divorce, to feel comfortable in a “biled tain distancss around a large circle, along the New Jersey coast as and their descendants live in Ocean Not long afterward he was left alone married a young lady of consider shirt,” but by observing the ways each being concealed under a low “Capt. Kidd’s Night,” when, ac county at this day with hereditary again, and again he sought for the able beauty, the ceremony taking of others he learns in time to grace shed, or brushwood covering, and cording to local song and story, the evil propensities, kept in subjection hand of the third daughter of his place in Washington, attended by his elevated sphere with perfect provided with a net attached to a victms and all the accursed crew by fear of the law. The memory of old friend. At last, when he came congressional and other official satisfaction, especially to himself. long bamboo pole. In his hand of that bloodthirsty pirate rise from the “oldest inhabitant” is not over for the fourth, the old man exclaim guests. On this occasion Mr. Tabor Such are the men who have been each holds a stick with a crook in their graves and along the shore re hauled in vain for tales of rapine ed: exhibited a two-hundred-and-fifty elevated to the top story of for- the end of it, upon which is perched enact scenes done while in the and murder by night in the storm “Yes, take her, but, hang it all, dollar night shirt which he intend- tune’s temple by a single pull of on the shore. a tame pigeon fastened to the crook body. when she’s gone, what’ll you do? ed to don in the bridal chamber. the rope. by means of a light but tough cord This is tradition, and to many Jonathan Spauldin, of Metede- You can’t have the old woman, too.” Mrs. Tabor No. 1 is in affluent One these fortunate gentlemen secured to one of its legs. It is seafaring Jerseymen truth. They conk, alleges that on the night of —N. F. Press. circumstances, owning considerable came to Denver a few years ago to trained to fly around and around as believe just as much in well-regu October 11th, away back some The greatest banquet ever known valuable property in Denver. She live. He built a showy residence directed by its master. lated ghosts, specters, and such where in the last century, his great to profane history was that which is living with a son in one of the in a neighborhood inhabited by na- The hunter gives his decoy the gruesome things as they do in their grandfather, Cyrenius Spauldin, the mayors of France sat down to prettiest residences in Denver. Ta- bobs and fitted it up in elegant at Paris August 18th, inthepalaise word; it circles about in the air and own identity. According to their and Job Hulit saw a strange sight, de l’industrie, as one of the features bor has a political ambition, and, style. After the operation of fitting soon the wild birds are attracted to gospel, the seashore Friday night j a sort of blue glare at sea, off Man- of the celebration of 1889. Think as in these days, when a man with up and decorating the interior of the spot. The nets are now brought should have been thronged with ill-' toloking. That the blue glare ex of a formal banquet at which 13,000 a bar’l has only to want an office j the house was complete, the atten- into requisition. The hunters conditioned ghosts, poorly-clad tended and showed in the center of people were regularly seated, and bad enough and it is his, he may tion of the owner was directed emerging from their concealment skeletons and a heterogeneous ag- the great circle of the flame a great which required the provision of yet represent Colorado in the Unit- to adding attractiveness to his ex- quickly gather in large numbers of gregation of supernatural horrors., ship-of-the-line. The vessel came 80,000 plates, 52,000 glasees, 27,000 ed States senate or occupy the terior surroundings. He observed bottles of wine and nearly 1,400 the birds, who thoroughly frightened I But it wasn’t. close into shore and the movements waiters and scullions! It was a gubernatorial chair. that his most showy neighbor had It was the sort of night when any of those on board were plainly seen feast that paled old Rome and the by their sudden appearance fall an Many of Denver’s citizens, who i statuary in his front yard, so he i easy prey to them. The chief ob-L well-meaning ghost would like to by the wondering fishermen. Then Caesars. ' from three to ten years ago found it engaged an acquaintance who was THE FINEST PROPERTY IN McMINNVILLE ! STRICTLY "INSIDE” PROPERTY. BUT ALSO SUBURBAN ! ELEVATED ! WELL DRAINED! SIGHTLY ! LEVEL! PURE AIR! TITLE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. I TERMS LIBERAL; EASY INSTALLMENTS! 1 It This ma nificent property comprises 460 lots and lies in the very heart of the residence portion of McMinnville. It is high, commanding a beautiful view of the valley. Many of the most prom inent residents of McMinnville are now purchasing property in “Oak Park Addition,” and many elegant and substantial residences will be constructed tnere there during tne the coming year. Wuter- Water works and electric lights will be put in this summer, giving all the comforts of the choicest villa property. Lots are from 50x100 to 50x150, and blocks 200x215, with a 15-foot alley down the center of each. The advantages of having an alley in each block are obvious. “Oak Park Addition” adjoins the depot of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the new county court house, the elegant public school building, and is three blocks from Third street, the business thorouhfare of McMinnville. “Oak Park Addition” offers superior inducements to investors, the settled policy of its proprietors being to steadily advance prices with its growth, rendering investments absolutely safe and profitable. “Oak Park Addition ” will be planted in shade trees; cross and sidewalks constructed and streets graded. The proprietors are turning in 10 percent of all sales as a fund for this purpose. This property is being offered for from to 25 to 50 per cent less than any other property in McMinnville of half the advan* ages. Prices of lots range from $25 up and are sold either on the cash or installment plan. A plat of this growing addition can be seen at Jas. Fletcher & Co.’s and J. I. Knight & Co., where all further information and price of lots and blocks wiM je furnished. Also at office of Barnekoff & Co., McMinnville Flouring Mills. PORTLAND INVESTMENT COMPANY, PROPRIETORS. F. BARNEKOFF, LOCAL MANAGER going to New York to order him a half-dozen pieces of the finest stat uary which could l>e procured in the metropolis. In due time the statuarj' came. He employed a man to take them from the express office and artistically arrange them on his premises. Coming home on the evening of the same day the bonanza king viewed his fine new bronze statu ary, but not with pleasure, how ever. The statuary of his neigh bor, whom he was imitating or try ing to excel, was of stone, and that was the proper thing. He retired that night in a mood of great dis pleasure. The next morning, be fore the sun was up, he went forth upon his lawn, paint-bucket and paint-brush in hand, and painted white each piece of the new bronze statuary. He was at work upon Venus at her bath when his friend who had purchased the artistic images for him happened along and inquired in dismay what he was doing. Said the man of sud denly acquired wealth: “Do you suppose I want any Ute squaws in my yard. Not by a ----- sight.” The friend amusedly watched the artist until he had completed the job of giving the shapely Venus a flesh coloring, and then fainted away when the gentleman stepped back, viewed the effect of his work critically a moment, theu went into the house, and, returning with a pot of colored paint, commenced to decorate the limbs of Venus with red garters. The effect, after he had completed his work, very much pleased the manipulator of the brush, because, he said, it made it appear more “nat’ral like.” The bonanza king transferred his resi dence property to a gentleman who evidently admired female beauty without garters. He employed an artist to erase ‘.hem on the staue of Venus. So she stands to-day in al) her nude and adorned beauty. head and monstrous sword at his side. An aid told Gen. Dow (per haps he was only Col. Dow then) that the commander wished to see him. Gen. Dow strode down the line, the soldiers laughing at the sight. “Gen. Dow,” said the command er, “you will march out into that opening yonder, take a position on that knoll and hold it until further orders”—something to that effect. In sight of the entire right wing of the army Gen. Dow went march ing out into the opening, his long, heavy sword clanking on the ground behind him, his big hat making him look like a grasshopper under a toadstool. The command er heard the army laughing and looked for the cause. “Who is that walking acroee the opening?” he asked. “That is Gen. Dow," said every body. An aid was sent to bring him back. “Gen. Dow,” said the command- er, “why did you go out there alone? Why did you not take your command with you?” “Dear me, general,” said Dow, “I beg a thousand pardons. I didn’t know you meant for me to take anybody with me. You didn't say so. you know.”— Washington Post. Says a Bostonian; “Any one who watches the movements of the big iron jaw of Gen. B. F. Butler as he sits in court and manages an im portant case would infer that ho was an inveterate tobacco chewer, so dili gently does he masticate. Still the old general does not smoke or chew. His jaws for the past four years or more have been exercised on the mild and exclusive bark of the slip pery elm, of which he always car ries a supply in his pockets. This is due to the fact that his physic ian told him he must give upsmok* ing. Feeling the need of something to take off the “hanker” for tobacco Obeyed Orders Literally, g W he resorted to the elm bark and The federal and confederate forces chews it constantly.” were preparing for a battle. The federal commander and his staff, seated upon their horses, were con sulting near the right of the line - - Proprietor. drawn up in the edge of the woods. BOXD A WEBB, Gen.Neal Dow was standing in front Frnli Meat, of *11 kinds constantly oa Highest price paid lor Butcher s of hie command, a very small man hand. stock with a tremendiously big hat on his I himu S i hist M< Misxrn.Lt U« Eurisko Market, 4 4 / 4