Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-09-09
HOW THE BOYS AST0NISHED THE
RIyERMOUTHIANS.

In the Story of Bad Boy" in the Sep
tember number Of orr I0NHg FoHS, is
riycn an account of how the hero and his
co.conspirators astonishcd the Riyermouth-
ians. A number Of old cannon, relics of
the war Of 1912, had been accumulated at
RivcrmOuth, and several Of the sold So
gers were scattered about on the wharf
II occurred to the enterprising mind of
Young Bailey that here was an excellent
opportunity for grand midnight surprise
A few of the leading members Of the Cen
tipedc Club were consulted and readily
entered into the scheme. A dozen or so of
the old war dogs were secretly got in
proper trim and position. The necessary
ammunition was quietly procured, and the
services Of Sailor Ben, under a pledge of
secrecy, were secured to prepare the fuse
for the grand awakening. We quote from
the story.
On Wednesday the fuses were ready,
That night we were to unmuzzle Bailey's
Battery Mr. Grimshaw saw that some
thing was wrong somewhere for we were
restless and absent,minded in the classes,
and the best of us came to gricfhulorc the
morning session was over When Mr..
GrmShaw announced Guy Fawkes' as
the subject for our next composition, you
might have knocked down the Mystic
Twelve with feather
The coincidence was certainly curious,
but when a man has committed, or is
about to commit an oilense, hundred
irifcS which would pass unnoticed at
another time, seem to point at him with
conyicting fingers No doubt Guy Fawkes
himself received many a start after he had
got his wicked kegs of gunpowder neatly
piled up under the House Of Lords,
Wednesday, az have mentioned, wasa
half.holday, and the Centipedes assem-
hled in my barn to decide on the final ar
rangements These were as simple as
could be. AS the fuses We're connected, 1t
needed but one person to fire the train.
Fereupon arose discussion as to who was
the proper person. Some argued that |
ought to apply the match, the battery be-
ing chrsencd after me, and the main
idea, moreover being mine. Others adj
yocated the claims of Phil Adams as the
oldest boy. AT last we drew lots Tor the
post of honor.
Twelve slips Of folded paper, upon one
ofwhich was written Thou art the man,
Were placed in quart measure, and thor
oughly shaken; then each member
stepped up and lifted ont his destiny AT
a given signal we opened our billets,
"Thou art the man, " said the slip of pa.
per trembling in my fingers. The sweets
and anNicticS OF "A leader were NINE The
rest of the afternoon.
Directly after twilight set in Phil
Adams stole down to the wharf and fixed
the fuses to the guns, laying train OF
powder from the principal fuse TO the
fence, through chink of which | was To
drop the match at midnight.
AT ten o'clock Riyermouth goes to bed
At eleven O'clock Rivermouth is rs quiet
as Il country cmrchyard,
At twelve o'clock there is nothing len
with which to compare the stiffness that
broodS over the little seaport.
In the midst Of this stiffness arose and
gidcd out Of the house like phantom
bent ON an evil GRAND like phantom
fitted through the silent street, hardly
drawing breath until knelt down beside
the fence at the appointed place. Pausmg
moment for my heart to stop humping
| lighted the match and shielded il witt
both hands until it was well under way
and then dropped the blazing splinter ol
the slender thread Of gunpowder
A noiSclcsS flash instantly followed, ant
NIL was dark again peeped through th'
creyice in the fence and saw the main tuS'
splitting ont sparks like a coniurer. AS
sured that the train had not failed, | tool
TO my heels, fearful lest the fuse nigh
burn moro rapidly than wecalculated, an'
cause al explosion before | could &c
home. This, luckily, did not happen
There's special Providence that watchc
over idiots drunken men and boys.
| lodged the ceremony Of undressing b
pluuging into bed, Jacket, boots, and al
am not sure took of my cap; but
know that had hardly pulled the cover
lid over me, when Boon" sounded tn
first gun of Bailey Battery,
lay as still as mouse In less tina
two minutes there was another burst ,
thunder and then another The third gu
was a tremendous fellow, and fairly shoe
.bp lDucp