The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-05
BUDGET OF FUN.
Phew--A WashOe Practical Joke.

Last NIGHT a stranger stroled into the Del
IA with n square box under his arm and
lounged about, looking at the pictures. lie
carried his box very carefully, and occasion.
al]y peeped into "a small hole in the box to
see that all was we'll
HIS actious of course aroused the curiosity
of Jim OrpdOrf, who walked up to him and
asked him what he had.
"Rats," said the man.
The willy James is always en- the alert to
get I'D some sort OF a racket for the boys"
Naturally he dropped to these rats, and at
once opened negotiations for them. The first
move was to asked the man to take some
thing. Both soon leaned against the bar, and
the stranger, setting down the box, took d
stiff cocktail aud a cigar
James then suggested that he turn the rats
loose in front of the saloon and give his dogs
achance to show what stuff they were made
Of but this proposition not meeting with fav.
or he pressed $3.50 into the palm of the man
with the rats. A bargain was soon made,
and James took his dogs to the front.
The moment 1t became known that some
rats we're gong to be turned loose for Jim's
dogs TO play with there was unquestionable
excitement on the street, and crowd gather
ed in jus: no time at all.
Now, gentlemen, for goodness sake get
back" shouted James, struggling with dogs
collar in each hand
"HOw dye spose we can turn these rats
loose in a space two feet square? Make a
ring and you can all get chance. There 8
FIVE rats in the box and III bet $2), even up,
that with my two dogs not one OF 'em gets
away
The man with the box kneeed down and
got ready TO lift the slide, when somebody
took mp tie bet.
"Now, boys, do step back and make room,"
shouted James again, and the crowd of 300
men widened out somewhat, and there was a
good place for the fun.
The little square box was the center OF ev
cry eye as the men bent forward and the dogs
could hardly be kept back.
"All ready, boys; letem flicker shouted
James once more.
The man pulled out the slide Of the box
ard the dogs were turned loose at the same
instant. Then there was wild rush for a
moment, dust confusion, etc. "Sutterin'
Moses" black and white animal darted
from the box and halted for a moment in the
center of the throng. 1t was unquestonably
skunk. The dogs SUNK off at once and
left clear field for the animal to operate.
The skunk soon began to force his attentions
upon the crowd.
The first sweep of his battery was show
er of perfume that sent the enthusiasm out of
about 80 men.
A great cry went up like the murmur OF a
storm at sea- The air was filled with protan-
ity and noisome Odors
You could cut the latter with knife. The
skunk having scattered all the north end of
the street. turned like lightning and shower
ed his compliments upon the lett
A burst of woe went up and shrek OF
laughter from those who escaped Those be
n ind In 6rc Of m know
the skunk was there, and kept pressing the
victims to the front, forcing the line directly
upon the enemys works. When the true
state of affairs became known, however, the
stampede became general The scent that
now became overpowering insinuated Itself
like g.ntle zephyr into the neighboring sa-
looms, and the effect was most pronounced.
1t drove the faro and keno players from their
tabes.-KetleB Belly Brown laid down the
case and fled through The rear door, while
men with -four in a row. didn't stop tor the
next ball. In front the scene was even more
striking Strong men were leaning against
and cas-, iour-bit meals into the gutter. Amid
the confusion the skunk retired to safe quar-
tiers, and so did the man who turned it loose.
When the excitement was allayed somewhat
a search began for the man who had played
this arocious joke, but without success
Men with six shooters, whose clothes had
been ruined, were specially active in the hunt,
but the stranger hasn't turned up yet. One
hundred dollars Will be paid for his body,
aead or alive, at the Delta,
This morning Chronacle reporter inter
viewed number of people to get a reliable
list of the sufferers No such calamity has
smltten Virginia since the great fire last fall.
jim Orndorf was found at the Delta in a
state of profound melancholy. He said he
n N m clothes
had spoiled as for getting SO badly sold. When
Jack Magee his partner, rehearsed the har-
rowing story of his wrongs, he cried like a
child.
The reporter also ascertained that when the
animal turned his Calling gun upon the crowd
about two dozen men took refuge behind
Ketlle.Belly. Brown maintains that he was
dealing faro at the time, but this morning he
was seen IN a prominent tailoring establish
ment getting his dimensions surveyed for Il
new suit of clothes. Many prominent cit-
zens were passing when the explosion oc-
cured and got the full benefit of the pole cats
il-timed levity.
At O'Clock this morning the 100 called a
special meeting to take action on the affair
1t was decided TO lynch the man who perpe
trated The joke If he could be found. No eX
pense will be spared to bring him TO an I'M
timely end The Washoe club subscribed
$lO0 toward the landble object. THIS morn.
ing a Subscription was started at the Delta to
buy new clothes for the victims of the disas-
ter. There will be special meeting of the
board of aldermen this evening to take action
in the matter A full attendance is required.
The following exquisite passage is com
mended to all novel readers. We withhold
the name of the tale from which it Is taken.
Her large, limpid, lustrous eyes filled with
big, billowy tears, Lurline leaned over the dv-
ing auct'oneers pillow. 'Lurline, he sighed,
teebly. Aye, Alonzo she answered, 'LUrllne,'
he said, meet me in the sweet buy-and buy -
HIS breath came fainter and with more diff
Guilty. In moment more he was going, 60
ing gone! He is dead, said the doctor.
Yes he has gone, absolutely and without re.