Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-09-09
The town was waking up. Windows

dShIHp WlldL llluL lllillS Ndo iOi.
Boom I" went gun number four
l sprung out of bed and tore off my
iact ct for I heard the Captain feeling his
wa along the wall to my chamber. was
half un dressed by the time he found the
knob of the door,
81 say, sir" | cried, do you hear those
gunsY"
"Not being deaf do" said the Captain,
a little tartly-any reflection on his hear
ing always nettIed him; but what on
earth they are for | can't conceive. You
had better get up and dress yourself"
"Tm nearly dressed, sir"
"Boom boom 1.-TWO of the guns had
gone off together
The door of Miss Abigaips bedroom
opened hastily, and that pink of maidenly
propriety stepped out into the hall in her
night gown--the only indecorous thing
ever knew her to do. She held a lighted
candle in her hand and looked like very
aged Lady Macbeth.
80 Daniel, this is dreadful! What do
you suppose it means?"
81 really can't suppose" said the Cap
tain, rubbing his ear; "but | guess it's
over now"
Boon" said Bailey's Battery.
Rivermouth was wide awake now, and
half the male population were in the
streets, running different ways, for the
firing seemed to proceed from opposite
points Of the town. Everybody waylaid
everybody else with questions; but as no
one knew what was the occasion Of the
tumult, people who were not usually ner-
vous began to be oppressed by the mys-
terry.
Some thought the town was being bonn
barded; some thought the world was com
ing to an end, us the pious and ingenious
Mr.. Miller had predicted it would but
those who couldn't form any theory what
ever were the most perpleXed.
In the meanwhile Bailey's Battery bel
lowed away at regular intervals. The
greatest confusion reigned everywhere by
this time People with lanterns rushed
hither and thither. The town-w watch had
turned out to a man, and marched off, in
admirable order, in the wrong direction.
Discovering their mistake, they retraced
their steps and got down to the wharf
just as the last cannon belched forth its
lightning.
A dense cloud ofsulphurous smoke float
ed over Anchor Lane, observing the star
light. Two or three hundred people, in va
rious stages of excitement, crowded about
the upper end Of the wharf, not liking to
advance farther until they were satisfied
that the explosions were over A board
was here and there blown from the fence,
and through the openings thus afforded a
few of the more daring spirits at length
ventured to crawl.
The cause Of the racket soon transpired.
A suspicion that they had been sold grad
ually dawned upon the Rivermouthians.
Many were exceedingly indignant, and de-
clared that no penalty was severe enough
for those concerned in such prank /;
others--and these were the very people
who had been terrified nearly out OF their
wits-had the assurance to laugh, sayin"
that they knew all along it was only a
trick
The town watch boldly took possession
of the ground, and the crowd began to
dispense. Knots of gossips fingered here
and there near the place, inGulgng in vain
surmlsls rs to who the invisible gunners
could be.
There was no more noise that night, but
many timid person lay awake expecting
a renewal of the mysterious cannonading
| The oldest inhabitant refused to 60 to bed
on any terms but persisted in sitting upin
rocking chair, with his hat and mittens
on until daybreak.
/ thought should never get to sleep
/ The moment driited off in "A dozc fell to
4 laughing and woke myself up. But to,
wards morning Slumber overlook me, and
| | had a series Of disagreeabe dreams In
one Of which | was waited upon by the
the ghost of Silas Trefethen with an ex-
orbitant bill for the use of his guns. In
another, was dragged before courtmar-
tial and sentenced by Sailor Ben, in iriz-
zled wig and three-Cornered cooked hat,
/ to he shot to death by Baileys Battery--a
sentence which Sailor Ben was about to
execute with his own hand, when sud.
denly opened my eyes and found the sun
shine lying pleasantly across my face. |
tell YOU | was glad
That unaCcountable fascination which
leads the guilty to hover about the spot
where his crime was committed drew me
down to the wharfuS soon as was dressed.
Phil Adams Jack Harris, and others of
the csnspirators We're already there, exam
ming with mingled feeling of curiosity
and apprehension the havoc accomplished
by the battery.
The fence was badly shattered and the
! ground ploughea up Tor several yards
round the place where the guns formerly
lay, formerly lay, tornow they were scat.
tered every which way There was scarce.
" gun that hadn't burStcd. Here was
one ripped open from muz1le to breech
and there was another with its mouth
blown into the shape Of II trumpet Three
OF the guns had disappeared bodily, but
on looking over the edge of the wharf We
saw them standing ON end in the tide-mud
, They had popped overheard in their eN
element
81 tell You what fellows whispered
, Phil Adams, Its lucky we DIDN'T try t.
|, touch 'em of with punk. They'd have
blown Ms all to flinders