Chapter 52
-- Compiled by the Cumberland Women's Club
and Published by the Cumberland Advocate
1874-1974
(used by permission of the Cumberland Advocate)
Donated by Linda Mott
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Law and Order
As a
result of the railroad being pushed through from St. Paul to Hurley the
towns along the way began to grow and with their growth came the saloons
and places of questionable repute. Brawls and fist fights were a common
occurrence and conditions became worse as time passed on until the territory
serviced by the railroad from St. Paul through northwestern Wisconsin
became
known as "Cumberland, Hayward, Hurley and
Hell", Hurley being the end of the line. Cumberland,
on the other hand, took steps quite early to clean up their town and succeeded
to bring about law and order. A group of law abiding people induced a burley
St. Paul "cop", who was known as Varley,
proceeded to exercise the powers vested in him, much to the
dislike
of one Nels Paulson,
who operated a saloon, and was known as the "King
of Cumberland." Marshal Varley was asked to
leave town in the interest of his "health" which he declined to do. The
inevitable had to happen. One night by some manner or means they got the
Marshal down in to the log yard of the Cumberland mill east of town where
quite a few of the rowdies and questionable characters of the town had
gathered, including Nels Paulson, "The King of Cumberland". Not knowing
the Marshal was an ex-pugilist, and having great confidence in their "King"
the mob was quick to accept the Marshal's "Sporting
offer to take on the 'King' in single combat. Should he lose, he would
leave town by the first train. However, should he be the winner of the
'slug-fest', he would continue as Marshal and proceed to enforce the law
in Cumberland." The story of that bloody fight
in which a "King" went down in ignominious defeat is still being told,
and from that night Cumberland took its first step toward becoming the
peaceful city that it is today.
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