The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-01-13

1 Hope! lift thy dropping wing;
The plan is ono of Gods all-wise designing
| Perfect through suffering.
WAXING UP THE WRONG MAN.
! An evening or two since some OF
| the employees of the Ophir Company
found an intoxicated man sleeping off
his over allowance of "tarantula juice
among the shavings in one of the tenn
porary shops near the works. They
had some trouble in getting the fellow
aroused, and more in trying to make
him understand where he was, or
rather that he was not in the place
where he legitimately belonged.
1t was determined by the men who
found the boozy party that they would
give him such fright that he would
never again venture within a mile Of
the works. Therefore they told their
man that they had positive orders to
kill any person found about the works
after dark. They said it was thing
they did not like to do, but as the
works had lately been destroyed By
fire the company were not in q humor
to take any more chances-their orders
were imperative.
The man tried to beg of, saying that
he did not know how be came into
the shed, and swearing by all that is
good and bad he meant no harm, but
all would not do. He was seized and
dragged SEINE distance up the hill
toward the Masonic Cemetery, to a
place in the open country where five
or six rificd cannon, belonging to the
Nevada Artillery, have been standing
since the day of the fire. Two stout
men then seized the trembling 'ssnooz-
er," and placing his head in front of
the muzzle OF one of the guns, told
him he had but three minutes to live,
as they were about to blow his head
OF.
Again the man begged for mercy,
saying that he had only taken a drop
too much aud got into the shed, he
knew not how, but certainly without
any evil intentions.
Said a man who had taken his place
at the breach of the gun, and was
taking some matches from his vest
pocket: 'If you have any word to
leave for q wife. AN old father or mother
or any friend or relative, you will do
we'll to make known your wishes"
IL reckon hain't got airy wife, or
old father or mother, or any body else
as cares . chaw Of tsbacker about me" !"
"Well, but have you no dying wish,
no dying request?"
'.Wall, now yo talk. Mout I make
. requestT'
"You may, and be quick about it,
Qighting match) as when l apply
this match to the touch hole of this
gun, off goes your head. You have a
request to make"
stranger, have"
"Out with it then. We can't fool
with you all night when there may be
other firebugs prowling about the
works."
II kin hav my last request then ?"
"You can"
"You won't go back on me 2"
"No"
"Whatever ak you'll grant ?"
"Don't I say so3 Let's hear your
dying request, or dab goes a match
into this powder, and Oft goes your
head !"
a gentleman, nay last and only desire
is that you'll put me at the other end
of the gun before yer stick that match
inter its touch h-hole." +
"Too thin !" cried all hands. "Good
but too thin! You don't get off that
wayw
"Oh, he!" said the snoozer, eyer go
back on yer word, do yer? Yer don't
know who am, I reckon. Yer don't
know you've picked up Bill Slicer
from the Muddy Fork of the Mohi-
can!" And suddenly shaking himself
free from the hold of the men who
held his arms, he reached down into
the top of his right boot and brought
out revolver nearly as large as a
Gatling gun.
"Oh ho!" cooking the formidable
shooting iron, ego back on my dyin
request? Now know the kind o.
men I've got to deal with-inferna
liars and murderers."
Half this speach had not been con
cluded-indeed, the pistol had hardl,
clicked-before there was a wild scat
tering of the little party of practica
jokers.
They ran behind the groups of can
non, bounded over the cemetery fenc,
toward the shelter of the tombstones
and in short rolled and tumbled il
every direstion.
"Oh, no" cried Old Bill, "why don
yer stand by yer gun? Come out o
yer holes! You've got bigger gun
nor hev, but I've got the most shots
and I'll give yer fair fight and di,
camel Wall, here's some fer yer a
random I" aud old Bill let off coupl
of shots among the cannon and tomh