The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-01-23
FOLLOW YOUR LEADER.
A RemsBiHCeDCe OF 7gsa "ssleo6s'
OF Old new EorE.

eniv years ago, was Thomas III. Smith,
not only a first clsss merchant. but .
noted humorist He was President Of
the Fire Club" ard in company with
Jse Foulk, the Curacao trader, Peter
Stsgg, cashier of the City Bank, Mat
thlss Bruen, snd others, gave rovsters
suprers, to which we're invited distin-
suished stra rgers in town. The motto
Of the "Fire Club' uss "fsllow your
leader which the members put into
practical use. 1t was explained to ev-
cry new guest that they, IS members,
were bound by an oath 10 follow st any
tiRe during the session the leadinss Of
their President, or forfeit thereby \ doz-
en- Of champagne and that any stran-
ger who fuifilied the conditions became
President pro temp0re till the adjourn
meht Upon enc occasion cotton
merchant frou New Orssns vss their
guest He heard OF the singular rule
aBd frank v accepted it. There was 80
much quiet pluck ia the strangers nan-
ner that Smith, who wss q dare devil
when oEce aroused, deterniued to put it
to the test
1t was late in the evening, in the dead
Of winter, and ice was floating up and
down the East river at every turn OF the
tide.
Follow your Ieader!' shouted the
President; and out Of the warm club
ROOM ha,iess, gl"vele.s, and top-coat-
less-rr.hed Smith with thirty mea he
hind him, down Dover street. past Wa
ter, through Front into South street
sad thence on the pier. One Of Smiths 8
ships Was monred at the dock; a lighter
lay inside the ice was loose aud ground
against the vessel.
Follow your leader" shouted the
mad frohcker sgain, and plunged into
the water Some drew hack, but more
followed, and twenty at last, one after
another-the Southern merchant last
took the le.p, scrambled to the lighter,
reached the dock again, and made foT
the club room. Several Of the mamhe
waited TO see the merchant safe, snC
then left him. As he walked up Soutf
street be entered store where ships
fndinga were sold, and drank glas.
o: grog
"Do You keep sunpowdsr?" he ask
; ed
yes"
"Get me half keg"
1t was paid for. and the Southerrer
taking it under his arm, returned to th,
club
Brave stranger" Was the salute hi
: received upon entering: 'you have pass
ed the ordeal safely, and the club is un
der your command"
Thanks, my friends, accept the po
sition, but | shall not ask you to leav'
the room again to nj CHIT. Let rs drink y
and, placing the powder ker in corner
, he took his seat at the table. After
. moment, laying bunch Of tow hefcr
him, out Of which he appeared spinnin!
. string, he continued: II accept th
command / will lesd now. Wait un
til | give the word, and then do Is
, do" ...
! By this time he had spnn the tow in
, to string thst would reach from tn
table to the CRATE He placed gotls
, on one end, to coHfne the string to th
= table. and then passed the other end t
s the pan under the CRATE, and made
r fast by q lump Of coal Not a wor
was spoken. Every eve was fixed upo
: the workman and his work Taking tn
: keg from its hiding place, removing tn
E upper hoops and unloading it, he place
, the open cssk on the table Not sol
moved. He threw q handful of its col
e tents into the fire, The considersbl
e explosion that followed startled ever
D one.
e Powder, by Jupiter" e1claime
f Smith"
Y Without noticing the remark, tn
. Southerner removed the end of the to-
| line from under the goblet and thrust
+ deep into the powder.
: NOW, members Of the club be sale
B, Il wish yon would hear what | have t
e say You have tried my pluck. ! cam
| from a hot climate, and you have mad
: ne 90 through an icy ordeal. 1t is m
, time now, land your ordesl shall be fer,
1 If you stsnd it, you will need no MOI
: wine; if Nou do not, your fines will Is
capital stock Of wine in your cellar =
p Follow Your leader" The speak,
walked to The CRATE, pushed away tn
: lump of coal, and placed the end of th
: lire in the fire Then be walked hael
e and bringing his fist firmly on the tabl,
i said again Let no man stir Folio
T. your leader" The line had caught fire
: it ran along the tow in itful sputteriag.
: it had to crawl eighteen feet only scros
t the carpet when it would reach the pow
:, der, Sixty eyes or more looked on
, One member rose from his feet, the
b another, and third, until there cam
an exclamation: 1--WE shall all be blow
! to the devil" when several made fC
t the door. The panic increased; ont {
S the loom the members plunged like
= fock OF sheep, even Smith, the Pres
n dent, 0olted with the rest Before th
tow line had burned as far IS the tab
l. all but the cotton merchant had ESCAPED
] As soon as be saw that he was alon
S he placed his foot upon the burning to
: and extinsuished it,
I EFIt IS not doubted How that tk
mysterious poisoning affair at til