The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-02
Sixteen Drums.

uP dt one time OuSnb 70 Oe EeSdHueu IN
the light of a modern wonder. There
is such a man at the Lookout House, on
jackson Hill, at the present writing, and
he attracts considerable attention. One
would naturally expect to find in man
who can beat sixteen drums at time, a
person of magnificent presence, noble
being who surveyed his surroundings as
if he were sole owner and ruler of the
universe. But in Herr Rattaplan you
find modest, amiable gentleman, who
looks as if he owned the whole of Jack
son Hill, all the people thereon, and had
a two-thirds in the outlaying territory.
His manner of taking glass of beer is
impressive. When invited to indulge
he bows condescendingly, his long and
well oiled hair sweeping the bottom of
his vest; then seizes gracefully upon the
foaming tankard, and drains it at a
draught. After several receptions of
this performance, the inspired drummer
starts majestically about among his vas
sells, the audience, for half an hour, and
then allows himself to be coaxed to the
platform, where he has his drums ar
ranged, and gives everybody a lively
turning over" for not tightening them
up properly. OF course he has to go all
over them himself to see that they are
in exact trim, and when that pro-
cess is finished grandly signals the band
that he Is ready. The band strikes up
a lively air, and from that time forward
the drummer is a busy man, hitting this
drum and that and the other in rapid
succession, in tune with the music, and
going through the most grotesque gym
nastics all the while. 1t seems necessa-
~, in order to beat sixteen drums at
one time, that person should squirm
about and hop around like a picked
chicken in a popcorn roaster, and the
Lookout drummer fully recognizes the
urgency of the case. He writhes and
twists, and throws his long hair about
until it resembles a hay-stack struck by
lightning; and whenever he gets in a
really tight place, tosses his drum sticks
up and catches them again, plays with
his hands behind him, and, as climax,
beats the long roll, and brings in the bass
drum and cymbals with lever worked
by his foot. About this time deaf per-
son, not cognizant of his high and en-
nobling employment, would think him
an extremely bad case of St. Vitus'
dance, while an old negro minstrel pat
ron would set him down as doing the
old railroad imitation business. When
the artist has got himself up to fever
heat and has all the drums smoking
particularly the one on which he does
his drumming, for he does no more than
occasionally touch the rest of the six
teen-he gives q final rattle and bang,
and winds up business, sweeping the
ground with his hair in acknowledg.
ment of the applause, and repairing
with much dignity to the beer counter
for a little more refreshment. The
drummer is big institution as he is
but why not play on seventeen drums,
and go about feeling as if he owned the
balance of the visible world, and moved
it with his drum-beat? One more drum
we are satisfied, would confirm Herr
Rattaplan in the belief that he belong
ed somewhat in the Godhead Cincinl
matt Commercial.
The Baltimore Sun describes sudder
collapse of Barnum's huge tent, in tina
city, on Sunday last. About half-past II
o'clock terrific wind storm burst upor
the hippodrome and in an instant every
inch of canvas covering the ampitheatel
proper, the stables, the hotel, the dress
ing-rooms, side shows, &C., with the
poles sustaining the canvas, was carried
up in the air, making much more rap
id ascent than ever Professor Donaldson
dreamed of making. The force of tn,
wind was so great that the canvas, will
the $50 quarter-poles, which were jerkec
from the earth, were in an instant lodg
ed in the trees on the north of the in
closure. The five center poles, each a
large as ships mast, were leveled will
the grouud. The anchor which sustain
ed the guy of the high wire on whlcl
Mile. Victoria makes her perilous as
cent, fastened six feet below the surface
and which it was supposed that no tel
locomotives could move, was drawn ou
as if it had been a pin, and the interior
Of the arena presented scene of uttel
devastation, nothing being left standing
but the seats. Such was the force of tn,
wind that four of the quarter-poles tina
refused to leave mother earth were sns D
ped off as if they had been mere sticks
and that portion attached to the canya
went up in the trees with the canvas
The force of the hippodrome was i'm
mediately set to work, and in less thar
an hour upward Of three hundred mer
were engaged in getting the canvas dowr
from the high trees. The canvas ori
ginally cost eighteen thousand dollars
and the damage is estimated at not les
than two thousand five hundred dollars
| - huAhOCA Vi lnS u4eIl COilllcNbSu Will LlAt
establishment were in the amphitheatel
at the time, and at the first giving away
of the poles ran for their own safety, anC
escaped, with the exception of one mar
who had his collar bone broken. o
course Burnum, who is spending hon
eymoon with his bride in the White
Mountains, was telegraphed to, and hi
laconic reply was: "Well, repair th'
damages"
The other night several burglaries oc
cured at Dyersville. Among the houses
entered was that of Mr.. Ceilings. The
entry of the burglars created rather {
laughable difficulty in that gentleman
domestic affairs. One of them got into
the bedroom of the hired girl, and fun
bled about her bed and person in pursuit.
of spoil. She supposed it TO be Mr.. Col