The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-04-04


to see that tksre were no rolling stones
or the like to step on, and made up my
mind to fight it out Pete, McGee,
said as be drew near, you'd better
think twice before you do it. 'Hould
yer tongue, will We? I've stood yer tyran-
ny long. enough was the only reply |
received, and in moment Pete had
struck. | had parried, and we were at
it. II any of you have happened to see
quarter-staff play on board a man-of war,
you will appreciate the game. Some
hundred men take the sticks at time
and pair off in two long lines on the main
deck. very often any two men who
have quarrel, settle it by getting OPP
posite one another and pitching in. [
have seen some pretty sharp fights at
such times. Pete was evidently an old
hand at the sticks, and had doubtless
figured in former days at many county
fair in the old country So I stood on
the defensive, catching blows like fail
strokes, aimed at head, leg and side with
astonishing rapidity. Pete was evidently
surprised at finding me au tittt with the
sticks, and in truth [ had all could do
to keep him from breaking my head.
As it was he gave me an ugly crack on
the left shoulder, and hit me slightly
elsewhere once or twice before l let him
know that could strike
SAT length. emboldened by my contin-
ued attitude of defense, he attempted to
break my guard and head at the same
time by a downward blow nearly cores
ponding to the seventh cut of the broad
sword exercise It is no joke to parry a
blow Of. that kind struck by such wrist
as Pete had, for slight detection Of the
blow will disable your knuckles, and if
you are-znot mp to the dodge, your own
stick Writ be driven down on to your own
head, which will probably end the fight.
That blow, however, sealed Pete fate.
| received it on my stick held over my
head and sloping sharply just clear Of my
left shoulder, IN fact, Slightly touching it.
He tTiedto check his blow, but had put
his heart too much in it his shillalah
glanced harmlessly past my shoulder,
while with quick turn of the wrist and
forearm, [ laid the whole weight Of my
blow fairly on the crown of his head, and
Pete McGee measured his length on the
ground while an involuntary shurrah
rose. from the balance of the workmen,
who forgot. in their enthusiasm for the
science, that their own champion was
defeated
pete worked like Trojan after that,
and | even grew more popular with the
hands, except when they were in liquor.
1t is a great thing among such fellows to
know that in muscle and pluck the boss
is not inferior to the best of them Two
weeks passed after my battle-royal with
Pete and Saturday snight came The
men were paid off. and the usual con
sumption Of the 'crature began. | ex-
aInlned MY revolver, all six barrels We're
properly capped, and the points of the
six bullets showed as [ revoked the cyl
inder, standing where could catch the
last hight from the west. \ squad of the
hands strolled by as stood at the win
dow. L returned their good evening,
and heard the word revolver passed
among them as they went on, showing
that they noted my employment laid
my pistol on the CENTRE table aud leaned
on the window-sill, watching the fading
in the west smoking my pipe, and
scarcely noticing the entrance of wo-
man who did my housekeeping for me-
She went IN and out as usual redding
up the room for the night, and finally
babe me good night and took her depar-
ture. ] presently made all fast, and
seated myself for a quiet evening with
my pipe aud books. By -and-by l began
to hear the miith at PeteTs slanty, away
at the other end Of the street, waxing fast
and furious. | heard the noise until
near ten o clock, when | turned In and
was soon asleep.
The next sound I heard was stun
bling blow on my door and confused
murmur of voices outside. To seize ms
revolver aud jump into my trousers was
the work OF an instant, and On the repeti
ton of the blow, [ called out stand clean
outside. I'm going to FIRE through the
door. The second blow had nearly dash
ed in the frail pine boards, as I spoke
the third shattered the door, and I could
see by the dim starlight dozen heads
and sticks pressing through the doorway
Aiming at the leader, L pulled the trigger
aud, heard the click Of the hammer or
the capless cone. Quick as thought
tried two more barrels, hurled the useless
| revolver at the nearest head and Selling
a chair smashed it on the head Of thl
next. Then came sharp crack or two
over my own head, and the stars falec
away, the dim room vanished into great
er darkness. and | was senseless. How
long | remained unconscious I cannot tell
but it could not have been long, for whe1
| first felt the damp cool air blowing over
my face, / could hear the retreating step,
and drunken laughter of party of mer
whom concluded We're my late assailants
Gradually my senses became clearer. ]
found, first. | was bound tight hand and
foot. Presently | opened my eyes.
lay on my right side, my head resting OF
a cold, hard substance Then [ tlistiu
guIshed the rush OF water afar of, aeains
the piers of the bridge As my eyes be
came steader, | saw thai the coll sub
stance ON which my check rested was
railroad track. | could.see few yard:
OF 1t, with Its companion rail, on which
my feet rested. Beyond and around was
the dark prairie, and a quarter of a milt
away, twinkled a solitary light in one of
the cabins. All this stupidity realized
as my stunned faculties returned, whei
suddenly the rrightful question flashed
upon my mind, has the night express
passed In an instant every sense was
acuteiy awake. | was lying bound to j
cross tie; my head, slightly raised rested
on a rail. | was not very near the head
OF the bridge. but far enough up the grade
to look out over the prairie.
Evidently Peter had planned ven
geance terrible indeed. Yet how did l
know but the train had passed?
twisted my neck until the cords cracked
and made out to see the all right signal
twinkling at the bridge [ shouted and
yelled for help, but the more earnest
became the more every one within hear
ing would think my shouts enly the
maudiin cries of some drunken Irishman.
The signal man at the bridge could not
leave his station for any ordinary cause,
and certainly the cries of drunken man
on Saturday night were not ex-
traordinary. All this passed through
my mind as [ shouted. until my
strength was gone. Then lay and 81
lently thought. My servant must have
,a,,avaJ -I,a MI