Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-03
The Raid of the Con.ancnes.

afford pleasing study.
The Raid of the Comanches.
Fred Hart, who was the eldest son of a
country clergyman, and preparing for
college at Whitford Boys Academy, was
known at that classical institution as a
"dig" because he sdug' into his books
and studied hard. His room mate, Neal
Howe, an orphan, dependent upon his
own exertions, was styled digger" and
as both lads were both dark, it was but
step for those upper story boys to call
them Digger Indians!'
This term was gradually extended to
include all the boys in the second story,
for they were all hard students. The
s'Diggers'' retaliated mildly by styling
their upper-story neighbers, Sea nanches.'
The Camanches perpetrated all sorts of
ool-boy atrocities on the Diggers, but,
above all things else, they burned for a
pillowfght. In vain they challenged
the Diggers to combat. Those law-abid-
ing savages declined. though aware of
thereby falling into contempt on charge
of cowardice.
Unmistakable indications were soon ap-
parent that the Camanches meditated an
attack.
The north wing was intended to be FIRE
proof, ana each story was separated from
the main building by iron doors which
usually were fastened back by staples
The Camanches reasoned that these doors
might be as effectualy used in shutting off
teachers as fire; and the staples in both
the second and third stories were one day
withdrawn SO that these doors could be
easily closed.
Scouting parties reported that the Ca
manches were getting ready the war paint
a, e., the burnt cork, and one ferocious
savage had intimated that they should
space neither age nor sex.
A council was Immediately held in
Fred Harris room, and Fred unanimous
ly chosen chief.
eff they're determined on pillow-f light
they shall have it," resolutely remarked
that warrior.
The Diggers proposed using their own
pillows as reserve arms only, and the next
day any number of this tribe might have
been seen securing the village in efforts
to buy up old pillows.
"All's fair on the defensive" said Chief
Fred and each Digger ripped open one
end of his pillow, poured little mucil-
age, and then basted it up, in accordance
with the liberal views boys always enter
tain concerning 6 basting."
At little after nine o'clock, when the
lights had been extinguished, and teach
er made the nightly rounds, a Camanche
al h
doors and relighted the halliamps. Then,
with hair-starting war-whoops, the savages
began dropping down through the trap
door, which opened from one hall to
another in the capacity of fre-escapes
The Diggers, peacefully studying in
their rooms, were summarily ordered into
the hall to battle. Every man protested,
but the Camanches refused to parley.
Then, Selling their weapons, the assaulted
marched forth to the field of carnage.
Thwack! went the blows of the Cam
anches.
Thwack! the Diggers.
Thwack! the Camanches.
Thwack! the Diggers.
A stir among the Camanches and then
a wild affray.
Crack! crack go the Diggers hastings.
Crack feathere Hy over the heads and
into the eyes OF the Camanches, and there
many Of them stick. The Camanches
realize the disadvantages of unprovoked
assault with no rules of warfare agreed
upon beforehand.
Here and there Camanche drops his
arms and flies to the farther end of the
hall, only to tumble unavailingly at the
fasteniDgs Of the iron door, while a vic
terious Digger belabors him with the
weapon he has just cast aside.
All at once there is deserted in the
dim light of the hall the books and never
to-be-mistaken striped pantaloons OF Cap
tain Hale swinging through the trap
door.
Captain Hale is drill-sergeant and pro-
fessor Of gymnastics. He has seen years
of army service, andis thoroughly imbued
with the military spirit. The boys were
more afraid Of him than Of the president
nd entire board Of trustees,-as afraid as
hey would be Of old Nick, himself, in
boots and striped pantaloons.
In a flash every Digger had disappeared
into his own room and locked the door
"ACSA AAAIi3 anu tIC SoulduCuCS dlC I'LL
alone, gasping among their feathers, the
captain in their midst
There is moment of bewilderment
followed by wild stampede toward the
iron door, but the Captain has cut off the
retreat.
Young gentlemen, you will remain and
clear up the hall. Williams, 60 to the
coal-cellar and bring up the two-bushel
basket"
Williams is ''nobbiest'' of third story
boys, brayest of Camanche warriors, but
Williams doesn't dare refuse to 60 for
that basket. During his absence his fell
low-savages express strong coubts as to
his ever re-appearing upon the battle field,
but he does return, like Regulus to his
barrel of spikes.
The Captain has borrowed a number of
brooms and dust-pans from the Diggers
who, to man, had retired and been snor-
ing sweetly.
"Now. gentlemen, clear up these feath-
ers!" orders the Captain, as if he was cry
ing, Forward, march!"
Clearing up those feathers was tedious
and trying process. Any one who has
ever chased a worn out but still lively
feather up and down a long hall can i'm.
agine the scene with hundreds of them